Police Arraign Couple Operating Unlicensed BDC Over Alleged N320m Fraud—-A couple, Mr. Chinedu Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi, who were alleged to be operating Bureau De Change (BDC) without license, were on Friday, arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye led-court on charges bordering of conspiracy, Obtaining by false pretence, forgery and fraud of N320 million.
The couple were arraigned before the court on the allegations, by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Prior to the couple’s arraignment, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, informed the court of the amended charge against them.
He told the court that the amended was pursuant to the arrest of the second defendant, Chinedu Ngwaka, who was not in court when his wife was arraigned before the court.
Following the submission made by the prosecutor, the judge allowed the amended charge to be read to the couple, for their plea to be taken.
In the charge, the couple and others now at large, were accused of conspiring among themselves and defrauded a company, Casco Electronics Company Limited and Mr. Tochukwu Samson Unachukwu, of the sum of N320 million.
They were alleged to have defrauded the company and the businessman, under the pretence of operate Bureau de Change and that they are in position of sending the money to the businessman’s partners in China.
The police also accused the second defendant, Chinedu Ngwaka, of forgiving a presidential plate number 02B 679 FG and a Federal government establishment’s Identity Card, bearing the name Dr. Chinedu Ngwaka.
He was also alleged to have claimed to be a consultant to Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
He was said to have claimed that the identity card was issued to him by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
The alleged offences according to the prosecutor, Animashaun are contrary to “Sections 8 (a) and1(1) of the Section 8 (A) of the Advance Fee Frauds And Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
“Sections 484 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws Of The Federation, 2004.”
The couple denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty when the charge were read to them.
Based on their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date. While also urged the court to remand them at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
However, their lawyer,.. ., pleaded with the court to remand them at the police facility pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
The counsel request was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor on the ground that the police facility is over stretched.
Upon taking submissions from parties, Justice Owoeye ordered that the couple be remanded at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi center of the NCos.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to February 3, to rule on first defendant’s bail application.
The amended charge against the couple read: “That you Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka ‘F’, Chinedu Ngwaka ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometime in March, 2024 at FL505 Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos conspired amongst yourselves to commit an Offence in defrauding Casco Electronics Company Limited and Mr. Tochukwu Samson Unachukwu and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Frauds and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Same Act.
“That you Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka ‘F’, Chinedu Ngwaka ‘M’ and others (now at large) sometime in March, 2024 at FL505 Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos with intent to defraud, received the sum of N320, 000,000 (Three Hundred and Twenty Million Naira), from one Casco Electronics Company Limited and Mr. Tochukwu Samson Unachukwu on false representation that you operate Bureau de Change and that you will pay the equivalent amount of 200,000 USD (Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars) on his behalf to Felicity Company Limited (a manufacturing company in China) a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Section 8 (A) of the Advance Fee Frauds and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 (As Amended).
“That you Chinedu Ngwaka ‘M’ between 2023 to September, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos with intent to defraud falsely presented yourself to the public as a consultant to Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
“That you CHINEDU NGWAKA ‘M’ between 2023 and September, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos with intent to defraud forged an identity card bearing the name Dr. Chinedu Ngwaka, purported to have been issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws Of The Federation, 2004.
“That you Chinedu Ngwaka ‘M’ sometime in September, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, Lagos with intent, forged a presidential plate number 02B 679 FG, purported to have been issued by the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Abuja and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. Act C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”
