Alleged N58.7m Fraud: Top Clearing Agent, Basil Nwolisa Sent To Prison

Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a licensed Clearing Agent, Chief Basil Nwolisa, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).

Justice Kala remanded Nwolisa, following his not guilty plea to a three-count charges of obtaining by false pretence the sum of N58.75 million made against him by the Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command Onikan, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Barrister Omonyimenle Eliot Ijie, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) had informed the court the defendant and others at large, committed the offences in December 2024.

CSP Ijie told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N54,955,000 from one Chinedu Emmanuel Obi, under the pretence of supplying him two (2) 40 feet containers in a Custom auction.

He also informed the court that the defendant did transferred/converted and steal the sum of N3,805,000, part of the money fraudulently obtained from the victim, Chinedu Emmanuel Obi.

He told the court that the illegal acts of the defendant are contrary to Section 8(a), 1(1)(c) Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. And Section 383 (1), Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the same Act.

The freight agent denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor prayed the court for a trial date and as well, urged the court to remand him in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services.

But the defendant through his lawyer Abdulmalik, asked for a short date to enable him file his client’s bail application.

The lawyer also prayed the court to remand his client with the police pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

The lawyer’s request was however refused by the court, who cited plethoras of legal authorities, to back the refusal.

Consequently, Justice Kala ordered the defendant’s remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS, while adjourned the matter to March 17, for hearing of his bail application.

Charges against the defendant read: “That you, BASIL NWOLISA ‘M’, and others at large, sometimes in December, 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining money from one Chinedu Emmanuel Obi, by false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a), Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

“That you, BASIL NWOLISA ‘M’, and others at large, sometimes in December, 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain cumulative sum of fifty-four million, nine hundred and. fifty-five thousand naira (N54,955,000.00), from one Chinedu Emmanuel Obi, under the pretence of supplying him two (2) 40 feet contain in a Custom auction, a representation which later turned out to be false, as neither the containers were supplied to him nor his money refunded, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(c) Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

“That you, BASIL NWOLISA ‘M”, between 2024 and 2025, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did transfer/ convert cumulative sum of three million, eight hundred and five thousand naira (N3,805,000.00), part of the money fraudulently obtained from one Chinedu Emmanuel Obi, which you knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such money forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b), Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“That you, BASIL NWOLISA ‘M’, between 2024 and 2025, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did steal cumulative sum of three million, eight hundred and five thousand naira (N3, 805, 000. 00), property of one Chinedu Emmanuel Obi, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 (1), Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the same Act.”