The police on Thursday arraigned a businessman, Ogochukwu Ofodume, before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged N343 million fraud.

The defendant is standing trial before Justice Alexander Owoeye on a seven-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

The defendant was charged alongside three companies, namely: B.I.G. VIP Excallance Ltd., VIP Impress Hollywood Ltd., and VIP Apartments Ltd.

The Prosecutor, M.A. Animashaun, said that the defendant committed the offences sometime in 2023 in Lagos.

He said that the defendant obtained and dishonestly took delivery of 1,228 bales of wax clothes, valued at N202.6 million, through one Kelvin Igwe, with intent to defraud.

The defendant was also said to have obtained delivery of 583 bales of wax clothes, valued at N96.1 million, through the same Igwe, with intent to defraud. Animashaun said that the goods were property of one Zhu Yan Qin

He said that the defendant also obtained N45.2 million from Zhu Yan Qin, under the false pretence of purchasing a container-load of timbers from the Republic of Guinea for shipment to China.

The prosecutor said that the representation was false, as the defendant converted the money to his own use by constructing VIP apartments.

The offences, according to him, contravene the provisions of Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation, 2004.

Animashaun said that the offences also contravened the provisions of Section 1(1)(a) of Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The judge adjourned the case till March 28 for the defendant’s bail application.

He, however, ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending the consideration of his bail.

(NAN)