Court remands Abuja bizman to Kuje prison over N36m fraud

Godwin Tsa, Abuja

A Federal High Court, in Abuja, has remanded an Abuja-based businessman, Peter Ojemeh, in Kuje prison, over alleged N36 million fraud pending when he fulfils his bail conditions.

Ojemeh was, on Thursday, arraigned on a two-count charge of Advanced Fee Fraud and other related offence by the Inspector General of Police.

He was, however, granted bail in the sum of N10 million and a surety in like sum.

This was after his bail application was not opposed to by the prosecution counsel, Abdulrashid ‎Sidi.

The prosecution counsel had informed the court that he would not be opposing the bail application moved by Johnbull ‎Adaghe, on behalf of the Defendant, so long as it was not based on self recognisance.

Earlier, the businessman pleaded not guilty to the count charges that were read to him by the Clerk of the court.

Justice Nnamdi D‎imgba, who granted him bail in the sum of N10 million, further directed the accused to deposit his International Passport with the court.

Ojemeh was further barred from travelling out of the country without the permission of the court.

On the part of the surety, he must have a landed property in any part of Abuja worth the bail sum.

Justice Dimgba, however, ordered that the Defendant be remanded in Kuje prison pending when he perfects his bail terms.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2018 and dated May 8, 2018, “you Chief Peter Ojemeh on the 4th day of November, 2016, at No. 70 Ebutu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud knowing well that you have been divested of the title of La’ Don Hotel Limited Jabi, Abuja by a court consent judgment in favour of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, dated 12th May, 2016, obtained from Sunny Arusuraire, the Managing Director of A.I.A International Limited, Abuja, N36,000,000 with the pretence of leasing the said hotel to him and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a) and (c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act.

‎”That you, Chief Peter Ojemeh, between the months of November and December 2016, at No. 70 Ebutu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court,‎ did convert the sum of N36, 000,000 to yourself the property derived directly from the proceeds of theft with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the money and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, LFN, 2011.

The case has been adjourned to September 23, 2018 for trial.