An Indian citizen, Lokesh Parwani, was today, arraigned before an Igboosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, for attempted suicide and alleged fraud of N116 million.
The the Indian national, who is a personal manager a a company, was brought before the court by the men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (ForceCIID), Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud and attempted suicide.
He was alleged to have on July 19, 2019, at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, conspired with other said to be at large to fraudulently defrauded his employer of the said sum.
Arraigning the defendant today, the police prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, told the court that upon the arrest of the defendant on the alleged fraud on July 26, attempted to take his own life by eaten a rat poison substance named ‘Super Kill Action Ready Bait Cake’.
Animashaun told the court that the offences contravened section 411, 280(1) and 235 of the criminal Laws Cap C17 Vol 11 of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015 and punishable under sections 287 and 407 of the same laws.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge when it was read to him
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, urged the court to remand the defendant to prison custody pending the conclusion of the charge.
I’m response, the defendant’s lawyers, Gani Oyerevuegbe and Mustapha Danisi, asked the court to grant bail to their client, as he was a first time offender.
The defendant’s lawyers also said they will ensure his appearance in court each time the matter comes up for trial.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. K. K. Awoyinka, in her ruling, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 10, in Lagos Civil Service.
Magistrate Awoyinka also ordered that the sureties must be residents of Lagos state, with three years tap payable to the state government. Adding that each of the sureties must furnish the court account statement with the standing balance of N1.5 million each and two recent passport photographs.
She further ordered that the defendant should deposit his international passport with the Court’s Chief Registrar.
She ordered that the verification of the bail terms be done by the prosecution.
The magistrate, while adjourned the matter till September 2, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending fulfilment of the bail terms.