*Arraigns supermarket manager for alleged N547m fraud
WorldStage– The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, today, Tuesday, arraigned one Oti Jonathan Idowu for an alleged N23m theft before Justice O.A.OKunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Idowu, alongside his company, Boundless Multi Service Solution Nigeria Limited, is being prosecuted on 11-count charges bordering on stealing to the tune of N23,000,000( Twenty Three Million Naira only).
One of the counts reads: “That you, Oti Jonathan Idowu and Boundless Multi Service Solution Nigeria Limited, on or about 30th March, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole the sum of N5,000,000,00 (Five Million Naira Only), Property of one Nneoma Okebugwu, thereby committing an offence of stealing, contrary to Section 278(1)(f) and punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.”
Another count reads: “That you, Oti Jonathan Idowu And Boundless Multi Service Solution Nigeria Limited, on or about 24th July, 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole the sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira only), property of one Umar Lukmon Agbomhere through Umaru Salmot, thereby committing an offence of stealing, contrary to Section 278(1)(f) and punishable under section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of this, prosecution counsel, A. M. Dambuwa, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed for the remand of the first defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Counsel to the defendant, I. O. Lala informed the court of a pending bail application and also prayed for a date for its hearing.
Justice Okunuga adjourned the case till December 3, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and held that the date of the commencement of trial would be determined on the same day.
The Judge also ordered that the first defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
ALLEGED N547M FRAUD
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned one Evangeline Atanda Ibadha before Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
Ibadha who was the former manager of JustProtein, a supermarket store in Benin City was arraigned on a five count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and diversion of funds to the tune of N547,307,016( Five Hundred and Forty Seven Million,Three Hundred and Seven Thousand, Sixteen Naira only).
One of the count reads: “That you Evangeline Atanda Ibaha (f) on or about the 1st day of November,2022 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly take possession and control of the of the sum of Ten Million Five thousand naira (N10,005,000) which was paid into your account No. 4990092639 domiciled with Eco Bank operated by you which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: stealing by conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act 2022 and punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.
Another count reads” That you Evangeline Atanda Ibadha (f) sometime between January 2018 to January 2025 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly take possession and control of the aggregate sum of Three Hundred and Nineteen Million Three Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N319,335,216.00) which was paid into your account No. 3007525066 domiciled with First Bank Plc operated by you which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: stealing by conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her by the Commission, prompting the prosecution counsel, I. M Elodi to pray the court to remand her at the Correctional Service and fix a date for trial. However, defence counsel, Evans Ogbeifun prayed the court to be an interim surety to the defendant pending the filing and determination of the bail application.
Justice Obiozor adjourned the case to December 8, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.
