Three freight agents have been remanded by a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State over accusations that they defrauded a company, Flem Viotad Nigeria Limited, owned by one Ayoade Mojeed, of N14.4m.
The suspects, Obinna Nwaokporo, Ayomide Olaiya, and Ejiro Omojevwe, were dragged before Magistrate P.E Nwaka on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and conversion of funds.
The defendants, who pretended to be freight agents, told their victims that they could provide logistics for clearing and shipping a naturally occurring mineral dust known as Mica, often used in makeup foundations, as filler in cement and asphalt, and as insulation material in electric cables, to China for processing and were paid N1m as part payment.
NIGERIACRIME gathered that a certain Usman Sani was sent to pack 56 metric tons of two 20-fits containers with Mica valued at N12m for shipment to China by the defendants.
According to reports, the driver absconded with the goods till date, stalling the shipment, which was to be done within three weeks.
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The prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the defendants and others still at large conspired to commit the offence.
According to Nurudeen, the offence was committed between May 19 and 24, 2022, at the Apapa Wharf area of Lagos State.
The charges read in part, “That you, Obinna Nwaokporo, Ayomide Olaiya, Ejiro Omojevwe, and others still at large, between May 19 and 24, 2022, at Apapa Wharf, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did commit felony to wit stealing, obtaining money by false pretences, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The Chief Magistrate, P. E. Nwaka, granted them bail in the sum of N1m each with two responsible sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case till May 3, 2023, for mention.