Court remands businessman over alleged N15m fraud

A Federal High Court in Kaduna, on Tuesday ordered the remand of a businessman, Ezekiel Adebiyi, in a correctional facility over alleged N15m fraud.

Justice Peter Mallong ordered the defendant to be remanded till April 8, for continuation of hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Office, dragged Adebiyi before the court for allegedly obtaining the money under false pretence.

The EFCC Counsel, P. C. Onyeneho had told the court that Adebiyi fraudulently collected N15 million from one Alhaji Dogo to purchase four plots of land in Abuja.

Onyeneho said investigation revealed that the defendant had collected the money and refused to give the complainant the Certificates of Occupancy for the said land.

He said that all effort made by Dogo to get his money back also proved abortive.

According to the prosecutor the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.