By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The trial of Chief Sonny Allison the CEO of Global Mercantile & Corporate Logistics Limited (GMC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over alleged N72 million fraud and issuance of dud cheques could not go on as scheduled.
At the resumed trial of the GMC boss on Thursday, the prosecution counsel Justine Enang, told the trial judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, that the prosecution was ready for the trial. However, the defence counsel Mr O.Ndubuisi pleaded to the court that he needs a short date so as to study the proof of evidence just served on him by the prosecution.
Consequence upon the request, the court adjourned the matter to December 12, for commencement of trial.
Chief Sonny Allison was arraigned before the court by the operative of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), IKoyi, Lagos, on June 15, 2023, on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.
The defendant was alleged to have used his company to fraudulently obtained the sum of N72 million, from a company, Sthenic Capital Management Limited, with the pretence of using the money to execute a project contract which he claimed had gotten an approved Local Purchase Order (L.P.O).
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The police accused the businessman of converting the said sum to his personal use, instead of using it for the purpose which he obtained it for.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant committed the offences in May, 2021.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant had on February 17, 2022 issued two Sterling Bank Plc’s Cheques numbered 00104770 and 00104772, valued N10 million and N820, 819, 10, 00 respectively, which were rejected when presented at bank, due to insufficient funds.
According to the charge, the offences allegedly committed by the defendant and his company, contravened Sections 8(a) and 1(i)(a) punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006,
Furthermore, the offences are contrary to Section 15(2){b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, 2011) as Amended in 2012. and Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act, Cap 011, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned and was admitted to bail.
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