Ladipo Sanusi/
A businessman, Austin Albert Ugochukwu, has told a Federal High Court in Lagos today how he was duped of N240million by a former federal lawmaker representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency of Lagos,
According to Ugochukwu, Hon Anthony Akala Bakare aka ‘General’ and some associates defrauded him of N240 million, under the pretense of helping him to convert the money to American dollars.
Akala and others are being arraigned before Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari on charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and obtaining under false pretense filed by the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Standing trial alongside Akala are: Saidi Oke, Bashir Mohammed, and Alhaji Umar Ali.
Also charged with the accused persons are two firms: Grantland Investment Nigeria Limited and Abroad Development Foundation.
While being led in evidence-in chief by the prosecutor, Dr. Imam A. Usman, the fraud victim said that after the arrest of the accused persons, the third accused, Bashir Mohammed, informed the team of investigators set up by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) Intelligence FCIID, Abuja, that the nickname of the first accused Akala, is ‘General’, and that he was not part of their gang.
Ugochukwu stated that further investigation by the DC revealed that the former House of Representatives member is actually the one called ‘General’ by his political associates.
He added that immediately Akala realized that his identity has been revealed as ‘General’, he quickly deleted his social media handles and pleaded with him to settle the case amicably.
Ugochukwu further told the Court that during negotiation between him, his lawyer and the accused, the first accused, Akala, pleaded with him to convince the DC to release him from detention so that he would be able to return the money in two weeks.
He added that the first accused also offered him two properties in lieu of the money and he wrote a statement to that, but his lawyer told him that he could not establish any nexus between Akala and the two properties, hence the rejection of such deal.
Upon the rejection of Akala’s offer, the witness said that the first defendant (Akala) vowed that if he (Austin) did not accept the offer, he should stop disturbing him.
He said that he also threatened to deal with the DC and other police officers involved in the case.
He added that true to his words, both DC in charge of Investigation, the Area Commander of Area J, Lagos, and Area Crimes Officer, of the Command, were transferred out of the offices and stations.
Earlier, the fraud victim had told the Court how Akala and other accused persons had threatened to kill him if did not stop pursuing the case.
He also told the Court how he was tricked by the alleged fraudsters to transfer the sum of N350 million to them with the believe and promise that they would instantly give him $1 million in exchange, but he was only given $20,900.
Ugochukwu also told the Court how the alleged fraudsters carried out their heinous act through First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
Following the revelation made by the witness, the prosecutor, Dr. Imam, urged the court to summon the bank and issued a hearing notice. The request which was granted by the court and the presiding judge granted the application.
Narrating his ordeal before the Court, Ugochukwu said that each of the accused persons induced him to give them N350 million in exchange for $1 million. He said that they reneged only to give him $29, 900.
He added that when the accused persons refused and failed to balance him as promised, he reported the matter at Area J Police Headquarters, before it was taken over by the IGP Monitoring team in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the court has again renewed its earlier bench warrant issued against Dr. Chukwuemeka Cyraicus Anyanwu, 50; Agboola Rasheed Gbade, 67; Nkechi Nwafor, 43; and Larry Balogun Otunba, 51, who were also mentioned in the charge.
The police, in the amended charge marked FHC/L/327c/2017, alleged that the four suspects and others now at large, had on June 15, 2017, at Lekki area of Lagos State, conspired among themselves to obtain the sum of N312.2 million part of N359 million, from Austin Albert, under false pretense of selling to the complainant $1 million.
The police also alleged that the four, after fraudulently receiving the money from the victim, converted same to their personal use.
The offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary to sections 8(b) and 1(3) and punishable under sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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