Court remands 3 suspects in prison over N66.5m fraud

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere, on Tuesday, remanded the trio of Kachy Kennedy Okoye, Usong Ibor Matthew and Igberaese Lawry for allegedly obtaining N66.5 million under false pretence.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Christopher Balogun on a 13-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

They were alleged to have conspired to defraud one Lady Lora Marire of the said sum under the pretence of helping to register her as a contractor with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and offering her a contract to build 100 units of duplex at Lekki, Lagos.

Four other individuals, who were allegedly at large and fingered in the alleged scam, are Tony Elijah; John Williams; Mr Chude Ngini and Alkali Hammed.

One of the charge read: "Okoye, Matthew,Lawry, Elijah (at large), Williams (at large), Ngini (at large) and Hammed (at large) on or about May 25, 2010 at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N39,100,000 from lady Lora Marire by falsely representing that the said sum represented the sum used for the registration of her company as contractor with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the award of a contract to her to build 100 unit of duplex at Lekki Lagos."

The three accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Prosecution counsel, Olubunmi Bosede, prayed the court to grant two applications filed before it. 

The first was for an early date for hearing and the second to remand the accused in prison custody. 

However, counsel for the first accused, Gbolahan Samuel, told the court that he had filed an application for bail. 

He requested for a short date for hearing of the bail application and urged the court to remand the accused in EFCC custody, due to the fact that he had health challenges.

Counsel for the second accused, E.S.N Ijeh, said he had also filed an application for bail and prayed the court that the accused be allowed to remain in EFCC custody. 

Counsel for the third accused, Austin Abkunimen, however, said he had not filed any application for bail, but aligned himself with the prayer of Samuel, claiming also that his client had health challenges.

Justice Balogun, after listening to their submission, adjourned the case till November 13, for hearing of the bail applications. 

He ordered that the first accused be remanded in EFCC custody based on the medical report in his bail application, while second and third accused were remanded in Ikoyi prison.