Two brothers, David Okwuanalu, 26, and Graham Mike Okwuanalu, 28, were today, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauded two Bureau De Change Operators of $50, 000, USD fraud.
The Okwuanalu brothers were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi by men of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on four counts charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obiazi, Legal Officer-In-Charge of FCIID, Lagos, are contrary to and punishable under sections 8(a) and 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
During their arraignment today the prosecutor, Obiazi, told the court that the two Okwuanalu brothers and others now at large, between August and December, 2016, fraudulently obtained a total sum of $50, 000 USD, from two bureau De Change Operators, under false pretence that they will change the said US Dollars to Nigeria currency.
Obiazi told the court that while the younger Okwuanalu defrauded one Alhaji Mukaila Tella, of the sum of $20, 000, USD, his elder brother, Graham, defrauded Alhaji Abdullahi Seriki, of the sum of $30, 000 USD.
The prosecutor also told the court that since the charge was filed last year, the two brothers have been playing series of prank to avoid prosecution, adding that they filed a fundamental rights suit against the police on the allegations, but the suit was dismissed with N500, 000, cost, by Justice Ibrahim Buba, of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The two brothers have however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their plea, the prosecutor urged for a trial date and also asked the court to remand them in prison custody, pending the conclusion of the matter.
However, lawyer to the two brothers, C. A. Anichebe, urged the court to strike out the charge against his clients for been incompetent and abuse of court’s processes.
Anichebe told the court that police have filed a similar charge against his clients before another judge of the same court and that the charge had been struck out.
Ruling on the submissions of the parties, Justice Kuewumi, while ordered that the two accused brothers be remanded in prison custody, ordered their lawyer to file all necessary documents for his clients’s bail.
The matter has been adjourned till October 23, for hearing of the bail applications.
The charge against the defendants states: That you David Okuwanalu ‘m’ and others still at large sometimes m the month of August, 2016 at “ten m the Judicial division of this Honourable Court did conspired together to commit felony to wit: obtaining the sum of Twenty thousand United States Dollars ($20,000 USD) by false pretences and thereby commuted an offence punishable under Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
Count 2: of the charge reads: “that you David Okwuanalu ’m’ and another still at large, the same date, place and in the aforementioned Judicial division of this Honourable Court did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Twenty Thousand United States Dollars ($20,000 USD) (from one Alhaji Mukaila Tella, with intent that you will exchange the money to Nngena Naira equivalent, a representation you knew to be false and thereby commuted an offence punishable under Section 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.
And count 4 reads: “that you Graham Chike Okwuanalu and others still at large on same time, date and place and in the aforementioned judicial Division of this Honourable Court did by false pretence and with the intent to defraud obtain the sum of Thirty thousand United States Dollars ($30,000 USD) from one Alhaji Abdullaih Seriki ‘m‘ with the intent that you will exchange the money for Nigeria Naira equivalent a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other-Fraud Related Offence: Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006”.
