Court remands lawyer over N3m fraud

An Ebute-Meta chief magistrate court, Lagos, yesterday ordered that a lawyer, Eric Igwe Okolo, be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N3 million fraud. Chief Magistrate (Mrs) A. O. Adedayo gave the remand order after Okolo pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of obtaining money […]

An Ebute-Meta chief magistrate court, Lagos, yesterday ordered that a lawyer, Eric Igwe Okolo, be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N3 million fraud.

Chief Magistrate (Mrs) A. O. Adedayo gave the remand order after Okolo pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing, for which he was arraigned by the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

The police, through its prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, said that Okolo, who resides at Wole Boy Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos, committed the alleged offences on December 24, 2008.

Inspector Uwadione alleged that the lawyer obtained the sum of N1 million from Emake Obiajulu on behalf of Chief Azubuike Ekwerekwu, under a false pretence that he was collecting the money on the mandate of one Chinedu Onwumele.

The prosecutor also alleged that the lawyer had, on January 15, 2009, collected the sum of N2m from Christopher Iloabanafo, on behalf of Chief Azubuike Ekwerekwu, under a false pretence that he was collecting the money on the mandate of Onwumele.

Following his ‘not guilty’ plea, Mrs Adedayo admitted him to bail in the sum of N1m, with two sureties in the like sum.