NAN-H-82
Fraud
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Aug. 23, 2017 (NAN) An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday slammed N1.5 million bail each on two members of staff of BF Summer Nigeria, for allegedly defrauding prospective clients of N23 million.
The accused, Michael Liang, 25, and Ajishefini Ibukun, 31, who lived at Ikeja, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Layinka, also ordered the accused to produce two sureties each, in like sum.
Layinka said that the sureties must provide three years tax clearance from the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case until Oct. 2, for mention.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Donjor Perezi, told the court that the accused conspired with one other, still at large, to obtain N23 million under false pretences, a representation they knew to be false.
He said the accused committed the offences sometime between 2013 and May 2017 at BF Summer Nigeria Ltd, at No. 1, Regina Omolara St., Ikeja, Lagos.
Perezi said that the accused fraudulently obtained N23 million from Ezekiel Judith, Toyin Samuel, Onyema Ndidi, and Julie, under the pretext of helping them to grow their business and with a promise of making them directors of the said company.
He said the complainants joined the company as distributors and according to the marketing plan, they were told to pay N960,000 each, which they did and to also bring in sub-distributors that would pay N48, 000 each.
The prosecutor also said that the accused promised to reward the complainants with a car, a house and travelling funds, afterwards.
Perezi said that the complainants brought no fewer than 8,000 subscribers each who paid in N48, 000 each into the company account of the accused.
The accused, he added, absconded with all the money and converted it to their personal use, until they were arrested by the police.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 409 stipulates two-years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. (NAN)
LAW/OFN/PIO
==============
(Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Idonije Obakhedo)