SWAT Drags Businessman To Court Over Alleged N11m Fraud

The Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactical, SWAT of the Nigeria Police at Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria have arrested a businessman, Oguche Emmanuel Ausa, 41, and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conniving with his brother, now on the run, to obtain the sum of N11,175,000 from the Managing Director of Agrocounty Limited, Okey Louis Udeh under false pretence.

Police alleged that the defendant and others obtained the money from the complainant with the promise to supply him Cashew Nuts, but that the defendant and others failed to supply the nuts to the complainant and instead converted the money to their use and escaped.

Police further alleged that following the incident, the complainant petitioned the Commissioner of Police in charge of SWAT, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria who referred the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Operations, SWAT Command at Adeniji Adele Road DCP Sunday Ogendegbe for proper investigation.

Following the directives, DCP Ogendegbe gave a marching order to his crack team led by ASP Hassan Ibrahim to fish out the suspects.

The Police teams, following intelligence gathering, arrested the defendant in Lagos while his alleged brother is still at large.

The Police said they have launched  a manhunt for his arrest.

Ausa from Kogi State was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos on a four-count charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, stealing, threat to life and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.

Police Counsel, Abraham Fadipe informed the Court in the charge marked B/27/2022 the defendant and others still at large committed the offence between October, 2018 and March, 2021 in Lagos.

Fadipe told the Court that the defendant tricked the complainant and collected the sum of N11,175,000 from him to supply him Cashew nuts but that the defendant failed to supply the Cashew nuts to the complainant till date and instead converted the money to his personal use leading to his arrest.

Fadipe further told the Court that as if that was not enough, the defendant also threatened to deal with the complainant if he dare ask him of the Cashew nuts and the money involved again.

He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sessions 411,314,287 and 168(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences in the open Court and his Counsel, Ngozi Ibeh prayed the Court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms with the promise that the defendant would not jump bail if granted.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A Sonuga granted the defendant N2 million bail with two surties in like sum one of whom must own a property in Lagos.

Sonuga adjourned the case till 26 October, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.