The Ikeja High Court on Monday convicted a Lagos-based lawyer, Stella Achebe, and her company, Infinite Favour Nigeria Ltd., for issuing a N10 million dud cheque to a man.

Justice Sodetan Ogunsanya found Ms Achebe guilty as charged and deferred her sentencing until the defendant was produced.

“It is clear that the defendant has jumped bail, and all efforts by her counsel to locate her have proved abortive.

“Delay in the judgement was due to the deliberate and willful refusal of the defendant to show face in court.

“The prosecution, through its witnesses and documents tendered, proved by cogent, credible and convincing evidence beyond every reasonable doubt all the charges filed against her.

“The court found the defendant and her company guilty as charged. I hereby adjourn sentencing until when the defendant is produced,” Mr Ogunsanya said.

The defence counsel, O.S. Ahmed, on Monday, told the court that the defendant could still not be located.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ms Achebe on an amended four-count charge dated February 27, 2015. The charge bordered on the insurance of dud cheque and obtaining money under false pretences.

The EFCC counsel, G.C. Akaogu, had called four witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence to prove the case against the defendants.

The prosecution, through the witnesses, revealed that the defendant had only N3.1 million in her account as of the time she issued the cheque for the said amount.

The defendant, who said she was a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, also took to the dock to defend herself, claiming that she was in the oil and gas business.

She had claimed that the money obtained from the complainant who petitioned the EFCC was for the supply of AGO from MRS. However, in the continuation of the trial, the defendant stopped coming to court.

On February 27, 2019, when the parties adopted their written addresses, the court, following an application by the prosecution, revoked the bail of the defendant and declared her wanted.

The court issued a bench warrant for her arrest which prompted the adjournment of judgement in the case.

(NAN)