Timothy Tozayi was on Thursday, arraigned in an FCT High Court, Gwagwalada, for allegedly obtaining N35.7m under false pretence of possessing spiritual powers to solve financial problems.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged the defendant with two counts bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
The Prosecutor, Y. J. Matiyak told the court that the defendant and Monday Christian now at large, sometime between March to July, 2022 conspired to carry out an illegal act of obtaining by false pretence.
Matiyak said that the defendant with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N35, 772 million from Mr llias Aminu.
He said that the defendant represented himself as possessing spiritual power to solve financial problems and restore his wealth.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 2(b) and 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defence Counsel, A. A Salim in a formal bail application prayed the court to grant his client bail, citing Sections 158, 162 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
The Judge, Justice Aliyu Shafa admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
Shafa ordered that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and adjourned the case until Oct. 9, for hearing.
In a related development, a 29-year old man, Israel Onwe, was on Thursday, arraigned before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged N18.6 million fraud
Onwe, who resides at No 9, Idi-Iroko Street, off Lagos Road, Ogolonto, Ikorodu, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Insp Magaji Haruna, told the court that Onwe committed the offences on May 19 at Shop 148, Ori-Iyanrin Market, Ebute-Ero, Lagos.
Haruna said that the defendant collected goods valued N18.6 million from three different vendors with a promise to pay in installments.
“The vendors gave the goods to the defendant on the grounds that he is a regular customer, who has not defaulted in the past.
“He refused to pay the money. All efforts by the vendors to get their money or goods back proved abortive,” he said.
Haruna said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 of the law prescribes 15 years imprisonment for obtaining under false pretences while 287 stipulates three years for stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs. O. Y. Adefope, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
Adefope ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant.
She adjourned the case until July 25 for trial. (NAN)
Ugochi Joy Ugochukwu
