$200,000 Theft: Indian Denied Bail, Remanded in Lagos Prison

Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, arraigned an Indian, Chandra Singh, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on a seven-count charge bordering on stealing of over $200,000.

Justice Oweibo denied Singh bail following his lawyer’s oral application, and remanded him in prison.

Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this on Thursday in a statement obtained by our correspondent.

One of the counts read, “ That you, Chandra Singh, on or about December 16, 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, removed monies from an account number 3002518278 domiciled in UBA Nigeria to account number 0003 domiciled in Citibank N.A, New York United States of America, the sum of $90,000.00, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

Another count read, “That you, Chandra Prakash Singh, on or before December 2, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court removed monies from an account number 3002518278 domiciled in UBA Nigeria to account number 0003 domiciled in Citibank N.A, New York United States of America, the sum of $78,000, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

Uwujaren noted that the suspect, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the offence. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, B.B. Bala, asked for the defendant’s remand and a date for trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, Efe Izokor, appealed to the court for an oral application for bail.

Bala objected to the submission made by the defence, insisting that “a written bail application be brought before the court” to enable her to respond accordingly.

Justice Oweibo remanded the defendant in a correctional facility and adjourned the matter till June 27, 2023 for the commencement of trial.