Lawyer Sent To Prison Over Alleged N15m Fraud

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A Legal practitioner, Barrister Chidi Anene, 39, has been arrested and arraigned along with a company, NIPCO Plc before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N15m under false pretence.
Anene was arrested by the Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
After investigation by DSP Kabiru Salami and his team, Anene was arraigned before Court 22 at the Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on a three count charge of felony to wit. obtaining money under false pretense and stealing.
Police Counsel, Moruf Animashaun informed the Court in charge No V/71/2017 that the accused and others still at large committed the alleged offense at Sterling Bank Plc, LASU Campus Branch, Lagos.
Animashaun told the Court that the accused being the Legal Officer to NIPCO Plc, fraudulently obtained a Sterling Bank Manager Cheque of  N15 million to transfer a title to a property located at Plot 448, Old Ojo Road, Satellite Town, Lagos in favour of Al-Moruff Transport and Haulage Company, but that instead, Anene allegedly converted the money to his use and failed to transfer the title till date.
Animashaun said that the management of Al-Moruff Transport and Haulage Company uncovered the alleged fraud when they attempted to taken over the property to start work and they discovered that the said property belong to another person.
He said that the offenses the accused committed were punishable under sections 411,314(1)(b) and 287(5)(a) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the alleged offense in the open Court and his Counsel, Gani Oyarevbhagbe urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on the most liberal terms promising that he would not jump bail.
Magistrate B.I Bakare granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum who must deposit the sum of N100,000 each in the Court registrar’s account.
Bakare also directed that the sureties must be landed property owners in Lagos with proof of three
years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case till 13 December 2017 for mention.
The defendant was however taken to the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos with a remand order when he could not perfect the bail conditions before the Court closed proceedings for the day.