Man Arraigns For Alleged N60m Fraud In Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, arraigned one Godwin Chukwuzubelu Godwin before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

 The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

 Count one reads: “That you, Godwin Chukwuzubelu Godwin, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a beneficiary of a power of Attorney donated by one Halima Abdulmalik, the owner of pieces of land situate at Block 108, Plot 8, Lekki Pennisula  Residential Scheme, Lekki  Phase 1, Lagos and thereby obtained an aggregate sum of N10,000,000 from one Mr. Lateef Ishola on the false representation that the money was for the premium on a joint venture agreement entered into on behalf of Halima Abdulmalik, a representation you knew to be false.”

 Count two reads : “ That you, Godwin Chukwuzubelu Godwin, sometime in 2021  in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as beneficiary of a power of Attorney donated by one Halima Abdulmalik, the owner of a piece of land situate at Block 108 Plot 8, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme Lekki Phase 1 Lagos, and thereby obtained aggregate sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) from one Mr. Lateef Ishola for the sale of the land on the false representation that Halima Abdulmalik required urgent life-saving medical surgery, a representation you knew to be false,”

 He pleaded “not guilty” to the offence.

 In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Ebuka S. Okongwu, prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility.

 Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter till July 12, 2023 for commencement of trial and ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.