A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday has ordered the remand of a self-acclaimed Oil Marketer, Benson Royal Enyinnah, who was brought before the court over an alleged fraud of N87, 557, 600 million, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till August 29, when his bail application will be heard.
The court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, made the remand order against the defendant after he pleaded not guilty to the charges made against him
The police through Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, had the defendant alongside his companies and his wife, Nneka Glory Benson, said to be at large, before the court in a charge marked FHC/L/451c/22, on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and fraud.
The companies charged alongside the defendant are Gloroy Energy Company Limited; Petroyal Energy Company Limited and Glonnek Energy Resources.
At today’s hearing of the charge, the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, told the court that the defendant, his wife, Nneka Glory Benson and the companies, between 2021 and May, 2022, conspired among themselves to commit the offences, under the false pretence of supplying the fraud victims petroleum products.
Among those allegedly defrauded by the defendant includes Obimma Benedicta Chinazor; ‘F’, Chioma Ifeanyichukwu ‘F’, Vivian Ifeoma Ndukwu, ’F’, Chidiebere A. Okoli, ‘F’ and Greenland Energy Limited.
To be precise, the prosecutor told the court that the defendant, his wife and companies fraudulently obtained the sum of N27, 477, 600 million from Obimma Benedicta Chinazor; N15. 5 million from Chioma Ifeanyichukwu; N28,980 million from Vivian Ifeoma Ndukwu; N15. 6 million from Chidiebere A. Okoli and N20.850 million from Greenland Energy.
He told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened Sections 8 (a) and 1(1)(a), (b) and (c); of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and were punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The prosecutor, after the defendant’s plea of not guilty to the charges, asked the court for a trial date while also urged the court to remand him in the NCoS’ custody till the determination of the charges against him.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant’s counsel, just served him with a bail application while in court and he needed time to peruse the application and file a counter.
But the defendant’s counsel, Mr Benson Ndakara, while responding to the prosecutor’s application, told the court that he is not opposed to the trial date but said that the court should take his client’s bail application, having been served on the prosecutor.
Ndakara also pleaded with the court to allow his client to remain in the prosecution’s custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application, due to his health status. The submission which was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor on the ground that the counsel that alleged that the police detained his client unlawfully cannot now ask that he should remain with the police.
Justice Aluko in his bench ruling ordered that the defendant be remanded in the NCoS’ custody till August 29, when his bail application will be heard.
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