Alhaji Samaila Abubakar
A Bureau De Change Operator, Alhaji Samaila Abubakar, was Friday, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, on charges bordering on obtaining the sum of N78 million under false pretence.
The men of Federal Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/122c/18, alleged that the Nigerien BDC operator, with an intent to defraud, obtained the said amount from a company, Reddington Nigeria Limited, sometimes in September, 2009, under the disguise of giving the company United State of America Dollars (USD), but converted the money to his personal use.
The 48 years old BDC operator was also alleged to have converted the said money, which the police said was derived from participation in an organised crimes, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the money.
The prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obasi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that the offences are contrary to sections 1(3) and 15(1)(a)(ii) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other related offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 15(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The BDC operator pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Obasi, urged the court to remand him in prison custody pending trial.
However, his lawyer, Adeniyi Quadri, pleaded with the court to allow him move the defendant’s bail application orally, but his plea was rejected by the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, who ordered him to make the request formally.
Consequently, Justice Kuewumi ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application, which is fixed for June 26.