Alleged N65m fraud: EFCC arraigns 77 year old business woman

Alleged N65m fraud: EFCC arraigns 77 year old business woman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday docked a 77-year old business woman, Alhaja Mulikat Shonekan alongside two others before an Ikeja High Court over alleged defrauding a company, Kuta Stones Limited to the tune of N65 million.
Specifically, Alhaja Shonekan alongside one Martins Ogiogwa and her company, Mujekanm Petroleum Nigeria Company Limited who were arraigned before Justice Olwatoyin Ipaye, were alleged to have on September 2008 fraudulently obtain the sum of N65 million from Kuta Stones under the guise of purchasing 90 acres of land located at Kemta Osun village in Odeda local government area of Abeokuta, Ogun State for the company.
According to the five count charge of stealing and
obtaining money by false pretence initiated by the anti-graft agency, it was alleged that the defendants collected the money from one of the directors of Kuta Stones Limited, Danladi Verheijen for the purchase but failed to deliver the property to the company three years after.
Alhaja Shonekan was equally accused of issuing a dud GTBank cheque to the tune of N5million through her company as repayment for the alleged N65million she collected from the company.
The offence according to the EFCC is punishable under sections 390 of the criminal code laws of Lagos State and sections 1(1) of the dishonoured cheque offences act, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
But the trio pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Alhaja Shonekan was granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties, one of who must be a blood relation, resident in Lagos with a three years tax clearance.
The second defendant was also granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties, one of who must be his blood relation.
The judge however ordered that Alhaja Shonekan be remanded in EFCC custody while the second defenant be remanded in prisons custody.