A 37-year-old businesswoman, Mary Okoro, was on Thursday arraigned in  a Chief Magistrate’s Court, Kaduna, for an alleged N1.2m palm oil fraud.

The defendant, who resides in Narayi Kaduna, is standing trial on a three-count bordering on obtaining under false pretences, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo told the court that the complainant, Blessing Njoku of High Cost Narayi Kaduna, reported the matter at the Police Station on July 1.

According to Leo, sometime in November 2023, the accused bought palm oil worth N1.2m from Njoku and promised to pay in installments for four months.

The prosecutor said the accused however reneged on the agreement and resorted to violence when Njoku demanded for her money.

He said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Emmanuel directed that the sureties should be gainfully employed and must also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.

He adjourned the matter until Aug. 6, for hearing.

By Adeyanju Esther

At the Delabo junction along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, the Ogun State Police Command has conducted a successful operation resulting in the rescue of four hostages and the elimination of two suspected kidnappers.

Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alamutu briefed the press on Wednesday at the Command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, detailing the events of the operation. According to Alamutu, the suspects, who were hiding in a bush, initiated gunfire upon sighting the police team.

In response, the police anti-kidnapping squad engaged the suspects with superior firepower, resulting in the death of two kidnappers.

The remaining criminals escaped with injuries, abandoning their weapons at the scene. Among the recovered items were 109 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five AK-47K rifles, eight AK-47 magazines, and two cell phones.

“The suspects were located through a covert operation in the bush where they were hiding. Upon encountering the police officers, they opened fire,” Alamutu stated during the press conference.

He further added, “The rescued victims, comprising one Nigerian and three Indian nationals, were safely freed without harm and reunited with their families.”

Alamutu urged the public to report individuals exhibiting gunshot wounds under suspicious circumstances. He also announced the deployment of a rapid response team to bolster security along the Sagamu-Benin road, emphasising the commitment of the police to maintaining public safety and combating crime in Ogun State.

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, July 1, 2024, adjourned till October 28, 2024 further hearing in the trial of one Alhaji Usman Abubakar  and  Young Alhaji Foundation over an alleged N950m  forex fraud.

Abubakar, alongside Young Alhaji Foundation, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N950 million.

One of the counts reads: “Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Young Alhaji Foundation and Dr. Abu Omer Fawaz (at large), sometime in September 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to obtain the sum of N950, 000,000 from Ano Farms Limited under the false pretence that you had the dollar equivalent of the said sum, which pretence you knew to be false.”

Another count reads: “Alhaji Usman Abubakar and Young Alhaji Foundation, on the 20th of September 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to dishonestly convert the sum of N180,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Eighty Million Naira), property of Ano Farms Limited to the use of Abdullahi Mohammed.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on February 22, 2023.

Under cross-examination by counsel to the second  defendant, G. C. Ugwunweze at Monday proceedings, the first  prosecution witness, PW1, Niyi Oyewole, who is the nominal complainant and Managing Director of Ano Farms Limited,  again reaffirmed his testimony that Fawaz linked him up with the defendant and that he, thereafter, transferred the money to him. He, however, stated that when the dollar equivalent was not forthcoming, Fawaz told him that Young Alhaji had been instructed to return the funds.

During the proceedings, Ugwunweze tendered some documents regarding a related case before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ajah as well as a letter to the bank on payment instruction.

They were admitted as exhibits p4, p5 and p6, respectively.

Justice Dada adjourned the case till October 28 and 29, 2024 for continuation of trial.