Man Arraigned, Remanded Over Alleged N84m Fraud

Man Arraigned, Remanded Over Alleged N84m Fraud

A businessman, Edrian Osagie Ididia, was today, arraigned before Justice Sarifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N84 million fraud.

Ididia was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.

The two counts charge against the defendant reads: “that you, Edrian Osagie Ididia between the 13th day of September 2019 and the 29th day of October 2019 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N84,000,000 (Eighty-four Million Naira) from Mr. Mark David Umeh on the false representation that you had three Sports Utility Vehicles for sale to Mr. Mark David Umeh which representation you knew was false.

“That you Edrian Osagie Ididia, between the 13th day of September 2019 and the 29th day of October 2019, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly stole and converted to your own use the sum of N84, 000,000 (Eighty-four Million Naira) property of Mr. Mark David Umeh.”

He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him in Court.

In view of his plea, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mohammed Hussain, asked the Court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant. 

But counsel to the defendant, counsel, Victor Chinedu, however, informed the Court of the bail application of the defendant, which he said had also been filed on the prosecution. 

“The defendant had earlier been granted bail by the Federal High Court and he has fulfilled the conditions,” he said, adding that Ididia was again arrested by operatives of the EFCC upon his release.

In opposing the bail application, Hussain told the Court that the prosecution filed a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit, and argued that the defendant constituted a flight-risk.

He said, “Indeed, the defendant was granted bail before the Federal High Court.

“However, the defendant is resident in Canada and does not have any known address in Nigeria.

“Even though the defendant spent the whole of last year in Nigeria, there is no residential address which the defendant can be traced to.

“He is living from one hotel to the other.”

After listened to the submissions of counsel, Justice Solebo adjourned till February 11, 2022, for ruling on the bail application, while ordered the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre pending the ruling.

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