Police re-arraign 54-year-old woman over alleged N19.9m fraud, fresh trial commences March 12
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A 54-year-old woman, Titilayo Bickersteth, was on Friday re-arraigned before Justice Isaac Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for offences bordering on fraud to the tune of N19.9 million
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The other defendants to the criminal charge are: Adtig Multi Service Ltd and Twice Afam Services Ltd.
The Special Fraud Unit of the Police re-arraigned the defendants on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences and advanced fee fraud.
Titilayo was first arraigned in January 2018 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo and the trial had since began with the prosecution leading two witnesses.
However, the former trial judge, Justice Oweibo, was later transferred out of the Lagos division.
Consequently, the defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Isaac Dipeolu, and trial is to start de novo (afresh)
The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence alongside others now at large .
After listening to the charge preferred against her, she maintained her ‘not guilty’ stance which she pleaded when she was first arraigned.
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After her plea, defence counsel, Mr Adewole Fadipe, urged the court to allow the defendant continue on an existing bail granted by the former judge on January 15, 2018.
He told the court that since her arraignment, the defendant has always appeared in court without fail, and urged the court to allow her continue on the existing bail.
The prosecutor, Mr Watson Uhumwangho, did not oppose the application and the court consequently, adopted the earlier bail.
The judge then adjourned the case until March 12 for commencement of fresh trial.
In the charge, the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence between 2010 and 2016 in Lagos .
The police alleged that she conspired with others at large, to commit advanced fee fraud to the tune of N19.98 million.
The defendant was alleged to have obtained the sum of N4.6 milion and about N15.3 million from one Subuola Alabi, represented by one Babatunde Alabi and O.C. Consult Ltd, under a pretext to help purchase a plot of land at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos, a representation which was said to be false.
The offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 1, (1a) and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2006.