By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Senior Correspondent
A 32-year-old woman, Edward Akinwunmi Olamide, has been docked by the police before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding Alhujaaj International Umrah and Hajj Service, an Islamic Pilgrimage Agency to the tune of N23,901,688.15 million.
According to the police from the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba, Lagos, the accused female fraudster committed the alleged offence at No 4 Shagbemi Street, off Oroyinyin Street, Jankara Lagos.
In the charge sheet marked D/8/2018, the female fraudster and others now at large, on or about November 30, 2017, conspired among themselves to commit the alleged offences bothering on conspiracy and stealing.
After reading the charge to Edward Akinwunmi Olamide the prosecutor, Inspector Chinnalu Uwadione told the court that the offences allegedly committed by the accused are contrary to and punishable under Sections 411 and 287(7) of of the Criminal Law Cap. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Count one of the charge reads: “that you Edward Akinwunmi Olamide ’f’ and others now at large, on or the 30th day of November, 2017 at No. 4, Shagbemi Street, off Oroyinyin Street, Jankara Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an Offence Punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law Cap. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Count two reads: “that you Edward Akinwunmi Olamide ’f’ and others now at large, on or the 30th day of November, 2017 at 4, Shagbemi Street, off Oroyinyin Street, Jankara Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N23,901,688.15 (Twenty-three Million, Nine Hundred and One Thosuand, Six Hundred and Eighty-eight Naira, Fifteen Kobo) property of Alhujaaj International Umrah and Hajj Service situate at No. 4, Shagbemi Street, Off Oroyinyin Street, Jankara Lagos, and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law Cap. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015”.
However, after listening to the charge leveled against her, she pleaded not guilty to the counts.
In view of her plea, the prosecutor, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody, pending trial.
But lawyer to the accused prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms, assuring the court that his client will attend her trial and will not meddle with the witnesses in the case.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Adelaja, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in the same sum.
She said that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos state government, and have their addresses and means of livelihood verified by the prosecutor.
The magistrate also ordered that each of the sureties should deposit the sum of N200, 000, 00 to the account of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.
While adjourning the matter till March 28, for trial, the presiding magistrate ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of her bail terms.
