Police dock chartered accountant , mother over alleged N1.07b, $975, 102 USD Fraud, remand in custody
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A chartered accountant Mrs Omafume Augustina Ayinola and her mother Lydia Abosede Ehrievuyere were on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on charges of alleged conspiracy, unlawful conversion of funds, money laundering and fraud of N1, 072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58 USD.
The duo were arraigned alongside their company, Patridia Resources Limited, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 15 count-charge .
While arraigning the defendants, the prosecutor Morufu Animashaun told the court that they perfected the alleged offences between 2017 and 2021, at Trailer Park, Agbara, Lagos.
Animashaun told the court that the defendants, committed the alleged fraud against some companies, which includes: Oritsetimeyin Logistics Limited, PUO Assets Limited, Resolution Capital Limited, Pine Petosan Limited, Grace Capital Ltd, RsL International Limited, RsL Ventures Capital Limited, Grace & Mercy Capital Limited, Grace Assets Limited and one Peter Ukuoritsemofe Ololo.
He further told the court that the funds allegedly stolen by the defendants, were meant for the purchase of consumables and supplies for office of the companies listed above.
The prosecutor told the court that the first defendant, Omafume Augustina Ayinuola, while working with the companies listed above, used her position to illegally convert various sums of money amounting to the total sum of N1, 072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58 USD, to her personal purse.
He also told the court that the second defendant and her company, Abosede Ehrievuyere and Patridia Resources Limited, concealed the origin of the funds, which they received from the first defendant, Augustine Omafure Ayinuola.
He further informed the court that the second defendant used parts of the alleged illicit funds, to purchase and develop her family House located at 14, Irawodidian Street, Obadore, off LASU Road, Igando, Lagos.
Animashaun told the court that the defendants’ unlawful acts, contravened Sections 8(a); 7 (1) (b)(i); 1 (3) of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006. And punishable under Sections 1 (3) and 7 (2)(b) of the same Act.
Both the mother and the daughter pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them at the Kirikiri female section of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.
He also asked the court for trial dates.
But, lawyer to the two defendants, Mr. J. O. Oladeji, informed the court that he had filed his clients’ bail applications and same have been electronically served on the prosecutor yesterday.
He pleaded with the court, to allow him move the application and admit his clients to bail.
However, the prosecutor, Mr. Animashaun, opposed the hearing the bail application, saying that he needed time to respond to some issues raised in the applications.
Justice Oweibo, after taken arguments from counsel, conceded to the prosecutor’s request, and adjourned the matter till next Wednesday for hearing of the bail applications, while ordered the remand of the two defendants at the female section of the Kirikiri center of the NCoS.