By Oluwatosin Maliki
On Monday, a businessman, identified as Muhammad Lamido, has been arraigned at the Lagos Special Offences Court, in Ikeja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, over an alleged N105m fraud.
The EFCC filed a four count charge against the defendant, alongside his company, Aliqea Group UAE, bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering.
During court proceeding, the prosecution counsel, R. A. Abdulrasheed, explained to the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 19, 2023.
Also, Abdulrasheed stated that the defendant conspired to defraud a company, First Right Enterprises of N105m.
Furthermore, the prosecutor alleged that the defendant, on false pretence, had claimed to have the dollar equivalent of the amount to convert for the business organisation, First Right Enterprises.
Speaking further, the anti-graft agency equally accused the defendant and his company of money laundering, with an attempt to conceal the sum of N130,200,000 and N173m respectively.
Afterwards, the accused, Muhammad Lamido, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The defendant’s counsel, Emmanuel Ogbeche, appealed to the court to allow Lamido to remain in the EFCC custody, he told court that a bail application has been filed.
However, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrasheed, immediately objected to the defendant’s bail application, while informing the court of a counter-affidavit opposing the grounds of bail.
Abdulrasheed pleaded with the court to deny the bail application.
He argued, “The defendant may not appear in court again regardless of the subject of the health of the defendant as stated by the prosecution.”
Although, the defence counsel, Ogbeche, asked the court to consider his written address, and said, “The defendant has a right to bail.”
According to Ogbeche, the defendant would appear in court on the set date, noting that Lamido had been receiving medical care at the EFCC facility and under the watch of the commission.
Consequently, Justice Olubusola Okunuga who presided over the case adjourned the matter to December 13th, 2023.