Alleged N105m fraud: Court orders remand of Aliqea Group UAE GMD
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Olubusola Okunuga of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja on Monday ordered the remand of the Group Managing Director of Aliqea Group UAE, Dr. Muhammad Bashir Shamsudeen Lamido, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Muhammad Bashir Shamsudeen Lamido and his company, Aliqea Group UAE were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N105 million fraud.
He was arraigned on a four counts charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and money laundering.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria. Lamido pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea of not guilty, the prosecution requested for a trial date, but
the defence counsel, Peter Olomola, requested that Lamido be allowed to remain in EFCC custody pending bail, Olomola informed the court that they had filed a bail application.
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However, the prosecution counsel, R. A. Abdulrasheed, objected to the defendant’s bail application and informed the court of a counter-affidavit opposing the grounds of bail.
Abdulrasheed argued that the defendant may not appear in court again, regardless of the subject of the defendant’s health, as stated by the defendant’s counsel. Therefore, he asked the court to deny the bail application.
The defence counsel urged the court to consider his written address, submitting that the defendant has a right to bail. Counsel assured the court that the defendant would attend his court date as he has been receiving medical care at the EFCC facility and under the eye of the commission.
The presiding judge, Okunuga, adjourned the matter to December 13, 2023, to fix the trial date.
