27th June, 2016
A businesswoman, Helen Ogunniwa, who allegedly obtained a truck load of vegetable oil worth N7.4 million from a business associate, was on Monday docked before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere.
Ogunniwa was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of fraud and issuance of dud cheque.
The Prosecutor, Miss Elizabeth Oyedotun, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 23, 2014 in Lagos.
She said that the accused fraudulently obtained a truck load of vegetable oil worth N7.4 million from one Alhaja Jumoke Yusuf of Bakro-Jummy Industries Ltd.
Oyedotun said that the accused obtained the goods under the pretext of paying back the money realised from the proceeds.
She said that the accused did not pay the money but rather issued a bank cheque worth N7.4 million which was dishonoured on presentation due to insufficient funds.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 1 (2) and (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
She said the offences also contravened Section 1 (1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending trial.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Joseph Opute, urged the court to grant her bail on liberal terms.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo remanded the accused in the EFCC custody and adjourned the case till June 30 for hearing of the bail application.