N7m fraud: Industrialist, firm face trial Feb. 2
A Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed the trial of an Industrialist, Jerome Onuaguluchi, who
allegedly obtained the sum of N7 million, under false pretence of supplying several metric tonnes of palm oil to Internally Displaced Persons Camp (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State to February 2, 2018.
Jerome and his Company, Novena Pasportal Limited are being arraigned before Justice Ayotunde Faji led-court, by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), of Nigeria Police Force.
The SFU, in a charge, marked: FHC/L/302c/2017, alleged that Jerome and his company, Novena Passportal Limited, had on or before October 19, 2016, fraudulently obtained the sum of N7 million, through his United Bank for Africa (UBA) account, from one Mrs. Elizabeth Olanrewaju Nwaokwo, of Oklan Best Limited, that he has some metric tonnes of palm oil to sell and deliver same within five day to the IDPs camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, Mr. E. A. Jackson, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), is contrary to and punishable under section 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud, and other related offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
Although the accused pleaded not guilty and the court admitted him to bail, but he is yet to meet the bail conditions.
Justice Faji has adjourned the trial of the accused person till February 2, 2018.
The charge against the accused reads: “That you, Jerome Onuaguluchi and Novena Passportal Limited, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, induced one Mrs. Elizabeth Olanrewaju Nwaokwo, of Oklan Best Limited, to pay the sum of N7 million, which she sourced from Mr. Leke Olufade, to you, through your bank account with UBA, by falsely representing to her that you had some metric tonnes of palm oil for immediate sale and delivery to her, and that within five days of your receipt of the money, you were ready and able to sell and deliver the said palm oil to her, for onward shipment to Internally Displaced Persons Camp (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“ The money which you subsequently converted to your personal used, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section (1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud, and other related offences Act No. 14 of 2006.”
Peter Fowoyo
