By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has granted bail to one Nanpan Salihu Yaniyang who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N17,449,000 and $6,300 fraud.
In her ruling on the bail application, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted Nanpan Salihu Yaniyang bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a blood relation to the defendant.
The judge further said: “The sureties shall depose to affidavit of means, must be gainfully employed and resident within jurisdiction; must show evidence of payment of tax over the last three years and one of them must hold landed property within the jurisdiction of this court.”
The judge then adjourned the case till June 1, for commencement of trial.
The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had brought Yaniyang before the court March 22, 2021, on a four-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N17,449,000 and $6,300.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded, pending the hearing of his bail application on March 29.
At the sitting on March 29, 2021, the Court had heard the defendant’s bail application, which was opposed by the prosecution. After hearing the arguments of both parties (defence and prosecution), it was further adjourned for ruling on Wednesday, March 31.
One of the counts reads: “Nanpan Salihu Yaniyang, sometime in 2020 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N17,449,000 (Seventeen Million Four Hundred and Forty-nine Thousand Naira) from Valerie Okoli and her co-investors under the pretence that you would help them incorporate a company, and use the said fund to invest in Forex, which pretext you knew or ought to know is false.”
Another count reads: “Nanpan Salihu Yaniyang, sometime in 2020 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $6,300 (Six Thousand Three Hundred United States Dollars) from Valerie Okoli and her co-investors under the pretence that you will use the said fund to invest in Forex, which pretext you knew or ought to know is false.”
