Alleged N84m Fraud: EFCC Recommence Canadian-Based Nigerian Businessman Trial After 2yrs

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a Canadian-based Nigerian businessman, Adrian Osagie Ididia, before a Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja for an alleged fraud of N84 million.

The defendant was arraigned on two counts bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing the said sum.

The defendant had previously been arraigned before Justice Serifat Solebo, who is now retired and was granted bail on January 27, 2022.

At the resumed hearing, the EFCC counsel, Mr Ebuka Okongwu, prayed the court to allow the two amended counts charge dated November 25, 2021, to be read to the defendant to take his plea.

Ididia was re-arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing the sum of N84 million.

EFCC alleged that Ididia obtained money by false pretence contrary to Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

He was alleged to have obtained the sum of N84 million ‘with intent to defraud’ one Mark David Umeh on the false representation that he had three Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for sale in September 2019, knowing fully well that his claim was false.

His offence of stealing was contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No 11, 2011.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea of not guilty, the EFCC counsel prayed the court to remand the defendant to a Correctional Facility and also fixed a date for trial.

In his submission, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Dada Awosika (SAN), told the court that he had applied for bail and prayed the court to allow his client to continue on the bail earlier granted by the retired Justice Solebo.

He submitted that the defendant did not at any time violate the conditions of the bail granted, and he has always been in court.

He maintained that the defendant was ready to stand trial and would not jump bail if granted by the court.

However, the EFCC counsel filed a counter affidavit to oppose the bail application. Okongwu submitted that the defendant worked in a construction company in Canada and that he has a Canadian passport.

“He does not even live in the address he wrote in the statement. The address was traced on Google and it was discovered that it was a short-time apartment.”

He added that the defendant has no residential address for the commission to trace him. Awosika (SAN) responded that he resides in Benin and stated that his international passport was deposited at the Federal High Court in another matter.

The counsel, therefore, undertook to bring him at the next adjournment date and prayed the court to release the defendant to him so that he would get his family to prepare for his bail bond.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Ismail Ijelu fixed May 22 for ruling on the bail application and released the defendant to Awosika (SAN) to bring him on the next adjournment date.