Policeman in court for defrauding businessman of N128m

A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jerry Ogunsakin, was on Thursday arraigned before the Federal High Court, in Lagos for alleged unlawful conversion of N128m.

The defendant is facing three counts of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and unlawful conversion preferred against him by the Special Fraud Unit.

The police prosecutor, Chukwu Agwu, told Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke that the defendant committed the offences on November 15, 2022.

He said the defendant conspired with five people, Ogbu Patricia aka Lamba, Michael Babatunde aka Orija, Bolaji Sobande aka Barrister Onifade, Peter Ben and Idris Wada aka Coker, who are all at large.

The prosecutor told the court that the defendant connived with others at large and fraudulently obtained N128m from a businessman, Esomonu Everest, under the guise that they have United States dollars to sell.

Ogunsakin was also accused of converting the N128m to his personal use.

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According to Agwu, the offence committed contravened Section 8(a) which is punishable under Section 1(3)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as Amended in 2012.

However, the policeman pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant pending the determination of the charge.

His counsel, Kole Bello, did not oppose the prosecutor’s request.

Consequently, Justice Aneke ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till July 19.

Earlier, the police had arraigned four men concerning the alleged crime before the court sometime in February.

The four men are Ibikunle Wasiu, John Babatunde, Taiwo Michael Fagbayimu and Pius Irabor, aka John.