Court Remands Businessman over Alleged N105m Fraud

A Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has ordered remand of the Group Managing Director for Aliqea Group UAE, Muhammad Bashir Shamsudeen Lamido, at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre over an alleged N105 million fraud.

Justice Olubusola Okunuga ordered his remand after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge.

The anti-graft agency said the offence bordered on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and contravenes the provision of Section 419 of the Criminal Code.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge brought against him by the EFCC.

The defence counsel, Peter Olomola, told the court he had filed his client’s bail application.

The prosecution counsel, Ridwan Abdulrasheed, objected to the defendant’s bail application, informing the court that he had filed a counter-affidavit opposing granting of bail to the defendant

Abdulrasheed asked the court to deny the defendant a bail application, arguing that the defendant may not appear in court again.

Ogbeche, in his submission, prayed the court to consider his written address, noting that the defendant would not jump bail as he had been receiving medical care at the EFCC’s facility and was under the eye of the commission.

After listening to the counsel to the parties, Justice Okunuga adjourned the matter till December 13, 2023 for ruling on bail application and trial.