Court remands businessman for alleged N84m fraud
Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has remanded Edrian Ididia, a businessman, at a Correctional Centre for allegedly defrauding one Mr Mark Umeh of N84 million.
Solebo ordered Ididia’s remand on Wednesday, following his not guilty plea to a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
“The defendant is hereby ordered to be remanded at the correctional facility. Ruling is reserved till Feb. 11, 2022,” the Judge said.
According to Mr Mohammed Hussain, the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ididia allegedly committed the offences on Sept. 13, 2019 and Oct. 29, 2019 in Lagos.
“The defendant, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N84 million from Umeh with the false representation that he had three Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for sale.
“He knew such representation to be false and dishonestly converted the funds to his personal use,” Hussain said.
Earlier during proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Victor Chinedu, via a bail application dated Dec. 20, 2021, asked the court to grant the businessman bail on liberal terms.
“The defendant had been granted bail by the Federal High Court, the bail conditions were met and he was released.
“He was, however, re-arrested by the EFCC on Jan. 24, the day he was released. We urge this court to grant the bail application,” he said.
Hussain, however, opposed the bail application, urging the court to remand the defendant.
“Indeed, the defendant was granted bail at the Federal High Court despite our opposition.
“He was granted bail on the condition that he raises a bank offer of N85 million, or bring a property of the same value.
“The defendant is a resident of Canada and has no address in Nigeria. For the past one year, he was living from one hotel to another. He has no verifiable address,” he said.
Hussain told the court that if bail should be granted, the conditions should be strict, to ensure the defendant’s attendance in court.
According to the anti-graft agency, the offences violate Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.
