EFCC arraigns 3 businessmen over N52m swindle of Indian

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned three businessmen before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding an Indian, Mr Khanh Lai, of the sum of $146,060 (equivalent of N52m). The accused persons are Prince Martins Nwaedi Dike, 48; Oliseh Dike Anthony, 38; and Victor Onyebuchi Okafor, 43. The three men […]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned three businessmen before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding an Indian, Mr Khanh Lai, of the sum of $146,060 (equivalent of N52m).

The accused persons are Prince Martins Nwaedi Dike, 48; Oliseh Dike Anthony, 38; and Victor Onyebuchi Okafor, 43.

The three men were docked alongside Marydicc Ventures Limited.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, were arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, forgery and use of forged documents.

The EFCC alleged that the businessmen conspired to defraud Mr Lai of the said sum on the pretext of helping him secure an investment in Nigeria worth $200m belonging to one late John Alex Ivan, a United States national, who resided and died in Nigeria.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the three men initially obtained from the Indian the sum of $137,380 in March 2012 as the purported cost of an investment deposit certificate they told him was worth N200m, and later demanded from him a legal fee of $8,680 cash deposit in March 2015.

According to the EFCC lawyer, Zainab Ettu, the men committed the offence sometime between March 2012 and June 2015 in Lagos.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala adjourned the matter till September 6, 2018 for hearing of bail application.