A man, Oluwatobi Asu, has been brought before the an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly issuing a dud cheque worth N102.8 million.
The defendant was arraigned on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his company, Aquilus Bulls, and others on nine counts bordering on the issuance of dud cheques and stealing.
Asu, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the EFCC counsel, Mr Ahmed Yerima, there is an immediate need to fix a trial date.
The defence counsel, Mr Oluseye Demuren, in a motion dated Dec. 11 and filed on Dec. 13, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
He informed the court that EFCC had already granted administrative bail to the defendant, which he had faithfully complied with.
“The defendant has entered a N50 million bond with the commission and he has produced three sureties, whose copies of international passports have been submitted with the EFCC.
“The defendant has also submitted the original copy of his international passport to the commission.
“We urge the court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms,” Demuren said.
Meanwhile, a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Thursday, ordered that a 52-year-old man, Charles Ogaba be remanded for pleading guilty to car theft.
The Chief Magistrate, Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Ogaba after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on stealing and conversion.
Adefioye ordered that the defendant be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry, and then adjourned the case until Dec.21, for facts and sentencing.
The prosecutor, Clement Okuoimose, earlier told the court that the defendant committed the crime on July 14, at about 1.00. pm, at Ibereko community in Badagry, Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant stole a Toyota Sienna 2000 model car with registration number FST 955 PT worth N1.4m, property of Ogala Adeku, the complainant.
He added that the defendant converted the sum of N700, 000 which was the proceeds of the car without the consent of the owner, stressing that the offence violated Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.