Nura Abdullahi, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, will remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the start of the trial on November 10 on allegations of conspiracy, fraud, and theft of N104,325,680, according to Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
After allowing the BDC operator to make bail on the suit filed against him by the police, Justice Osiagor granted the remand order against him.
According to the prosecutor, Mr. Anthony Ideye, the BDC operator got money worth N156,325,680 in Euros from a man named Bashiru Yusuf sometime in May of this year under the false pretense of changing it to Naira.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant was only able to return N52 million to the complainant after receiving the money and refused to pay the balance N104,325,680.
He testified before the court that the defendant had violated Sections 1(3) and 1(1)(a) of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2006), which prohibit advance fee fraud and other related offenses. Likewise, the Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Section 390(8)(c).
In response to the accusation, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution requested a trial date after the defendant entered a not-guilty plea and sought the court to detain the defendant until the outcome of the accusations against him.
Upon his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, as well urged the court to remand him till the determination of the allegations against him.
But his lawyer, Charles Idehen, pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms, haven been in police custody for over a month.
Responding, the prosecutor told the court that the defendant was granted administrative bail but unable to meet up.
Justice Osiagor, in his bench ruling, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N20 million with a surety in like sum.
The judge ordered that the surety must be a Grade Level 14 and above in government employment, who resides in Lagos and having a landed property with title documents in Lagos.
The judge while adjourning the matter till November 10 for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the NCoS’ custody till the perfection of the bail terms.
