Alleged Attempted Kidnap, N12.7m Fraud: Court Fixes Jul. 6, For Bizman’s Trial

Alleged Attempted Kidnap, N12.7m Fraud: Court Fixes Jul. 6, For Bizman’s Trial

Further hearing in a two criminal-charge of alleged attempted Kidnap and fraud of  N12, 738, 000 million, filed against a businessman, Paul Smith Eigbefor, by the men of Inspector-General of Police Response Team (IRT), before Ogba Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, has been fixed for July 6.

Paul whose office is located at 7, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA-Ikeja, Lagos, was arraigned before a court presided over by Magistrate A. Odusanya, sometimes in January, on a two separate charges marked MIK/F/6/2021 and MIK/F/7/2021, bordering on conspiracy,  kidnapping, attempted murder and fraud of N12, 738, 000 million.

He was alleged to have committed the offences around Opebi link road, Ikeja, Lagos, between November 19, 2019 and August 1 and 7, 2020, alongside his company, SmarshInvest Integrated Services Limited.

In the charge marked MIK/F/6/2021, the businessman was alleged to have conspired with his company to fraudulently obtained the sum of N10 million from one Oluyomi Olumide, under the pretence of investing the money in his company’s product named ‘Smarsh Integrated Services limited’, with a promise of given him multiple return.

He was also alleged to have procure one Olalekan John to kidnap and others to kidnap the said Oluyomi Olumide, when he demanded for refund of his investment from him.

While in the charge marked MIK/F/7/2021, Paul and his company were of defrauding one Victoria Ajenipa of N2.738,000 million.

He was alleged to have used the same method he used in defrauding Oluyomi Olumide, to defraud Victoria.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Nosa, are contrary to sections 611, 405, 411 and 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The businessman had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty when the charge were read to him.

Following his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Mr. Nosa Watson Uhumwangho, urged the court to remand him in the facility of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against him.

But his lawyer pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms, on the ground that the charges against his client were bailable.

Deciding the counsel’s submission, magistrate Odusanya, had admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties on each charge.

Magistrate Odusanya also ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner with the court’s justification and that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government. Adding that a documents submitted by the sureties must be verified by the prosecutor.

The Magistrate had adjourned the matter for mention on March 2, 

On March 2, the presiding Magistrate further adjourned the matter which incidentally could not hold due to the strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

However, search from the court this morning revealed that the matter has been adjourned till July 6, for mention.

editor

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