A Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Gwagwalada, on Monday, remanded a businessman, Jim Okolo, in Kuje correctional centre over alleged conspiracy and fraud.
Credible news reports that Okolo’s remand, along with two companies: Jimex Petroleum Resources Ltd. and Dickso Blue Ltd., was pending the hearing of the bail application before the court.
The Attorney-General of the Federation had arraigned Okolo on an eight-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, cheating by impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The Judge, Justice Aliyu Shafa, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje prison, pending the hearing of the bail application on Feb. 13.
The Prosecution Counsel, Vivian Oporomo, Principal State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice, had earlier prayed the court to remand the defendant, pending the reply to the bail application served on her by the Defence Counsel, Marshal Abubakar.
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Oporomo told the court that Okolo and the other two defendants, who reside at No. 20, Agadex Street, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, conspired among themselves, with the intent to defraud and obtain the sum of N400,000 from one Kanu Chukwudi.
The prosecution counsel said that the transaction was done through Jimex Petroleum Company’s account under the false pretence of securing a job for Esther Kanu in the Federal Road Safety Commission on March 12, 2021.
The prosecutor also said that the first and third defendants of Gwarinpa 2, Abuja, sometime in 2022, conspired between themselves, with the intent to defraud and obtain the sum of N3.5 million from one Jennifer Obi.
She noted that the transaction was done through a Dickso Blue account domiciled with Access Bank and the first defendant’s account domiciled with First Bank.
Oporomo further alleged that the transaction was done under the false pretence that the money would be used to secure employment for some job applicants in a Federal Government establishment.
She also said that the first defendant, between 2021 and 2022, cheated by presenting himself as a member of House of Representatives to Victory Mba, with the capacity and contacts in Federal Government agencies to secure employment for job seekers, which he knew was false.
The prosecution counsel further said that the first defendant also cheated by impersonation by presenting himself as a member of house of representatives to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, with contacts in Federal Government agencies.
She said, the offences contravene the provisions of Sections 321 of the Penal Code, Section 1(1)(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Section 8 of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Credible news.ng
