Three Bureau De Change Operators, were on Friday, arraigned by the Police in Lagos, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauded a businessman of the sum of N32, 309, 862 million.
The three accused, Bagudu Adamu, Abubakar Mamuda and Amodu Nuhu.
They were accused of defrauding the businessman, Ike Magnus, of the said amount, under false pretence of changing it to United States of America’s Dollars (USD).
They were arraigned on a three count-charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and fraudulent conversion of the said sum.
The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos stated that the three accused persons, and one Abdulrasak Opeyemi Apatira, now at large, have between the month of December 2016 and January 2017, conspired among themselves and defraud the businessman of Zone D, Block 1a, shop 9, Trade Fair Complex of the said sum.
They were also accused of obtained the money from the businessman by false pretence at Ogba and Agege area of Lagos State.
FCIID also accused the three Bureau De Change Operator, of converting Ike Magnus’s money to their personal used, after their failed to return it to the businessman.
The offences according to the FCIID’s prosecutor, Barr. Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to section 8 (a), 1(1)(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same act.
The offence is also said to be contrary to section 338(1) of the Criminal Code Act C39, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 390 of the same Act.
The three accused however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, barrister Animashaun, pleaded with the cpurt to remand them in prisons custody.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons’ bail applications was just served on him while in court, and that he needed time to respond to the applications.
Lawyer to the accused persons, Mr. Chinnedu Victor, confirmed to court that his clients’ bail applications were served on the prosecutor , he therefore not opposed the prosecutor’s application for his clients to be remanded in prisons custody.
Consequently, Justice Faji, while adjourned the matter till February 15, for hearing of the bail applications, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prisons custody. While fixed April 18, 24 and 25, for their trial,
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