Court Remands NOGASA Boss In Prison Over Alleged N43.5m Fraud

Court Remands NOGASA Boss In Prison Over Alleged N43.5m Fraud

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has remanded the Chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), Lagos Zone, Dr Fatuyi Philips in prison for allegedly defrauding a businessman, Elochukwu Okoye of N43.5 million.

Justice Dada ordered that Philips be kept behind a bar after he was arraigned before her alongside his company, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

The EFCC Counsel, Samuel Daji told the judge that the defendant committed the offence on or about the 28th day of September 2016, in Lagos.

Daji also informed the court that the defendant with the intent to defraud allegedly obtained N43.5 million from Okoye, a Lagos businessman under false representation.

The prosecutor maintained that the offences are contrary to the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Fraud Related Offences, 2006 and Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.Following the development, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services and also fix a trial date.

But the defence counsel, Charles Ugbonna informed the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of the first defendant dated April 7, 2022.

But Daji opposed the hearing of the application on the ground that he had just been served with a copy and he needed time to respond to it.

Justice Dada upheld Daji’s submission, holding that the application was not ripe for hearing.