The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned an Insurance Brokers, John Ethagbe, before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for his alleged involvement in a N20 million fraudulent transaction.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro by the men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) on a two count-charge of conspiracy to commit fraud and obtaining N20 million by false pretences.
The police prosecutor, Henry Obiaze, told the court that the defendant, Jerome Itepu (now at large) and a company, Omo Jay Limited, committed the offences sometime in December 2012 in Lagos State.
Obiaze also told the court that the defendant and others allegedly obtained the sum from one Felix Ogbe, with the pretence that the money was for the execution of a contract awarded to them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He stated that the offences contravened sections 8(a) and 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Related crimes Act 2006 and were punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and fix a trial date.
But the defence lawyer, Sylvanus Ogwemoh (SAN), while moving his client’s bail application, told the judge that the issue that led to the charges was purely a civil contract between parties.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter to March 21 for a ruling on the bail application.
The judge, however, released the defendant to his lawyer with an order that he must produce the defendant at the next adjourned date
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