Men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos, has arraigned one Bright Azuonwu Onyebuchi, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for attempt to swindle an insurance firm, AIICO Insurance Plc, of the sum of N21.8 million.
Onyebuchi was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Allagoa, on three counts charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery.
The prosecutor, Mr Henry Obiazi, told the court that the defendant, and others now at large, committed the offences between the months of March-May 2019.
The prosecutor informed the court that in carrying out the alleged crimes, the defendant, forged a document known as “Sworn Affidavit for Proof of Self- Identification”, dated July 23, 2018, belonging to one Mrs. Onwuzuruigbo Uloaku.
He told the court that the defendant’s act contravened sections 8(a) and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. And Section Section 467(3) (i) of the Criminal Code Cap. C38 LFN, 2004.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his not guilty plea, his counsel, S. O. Elimihe, Tuesday, moved his bail application which was not opposed by the prosecutor, and urged the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening to the counsel and cited several legal authorities and section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge ordered that the surety must be a resident within the Court’s jurisdiction with landed property or a senior civil servant. He added that the Prosecution is to verify all the surety’s particulars.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa while adjourning the matter to February 24, for trial, ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), until he is able to meet the bail terms.
