By Felix Kuyinu
The Ikeja Federal High Court has docked one Yusuf Alli to a Correctional Centre over allegations of fraudulent diversion of a trailer with goods worth N50,000,000.
Alli, facing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and fraudulent conversion of property was remanded by Justice Friday Ogazi after pleading not guilty to the charges filed against him by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The police in a charge told the court that the defendant, alongside other accomplices who are not yet apprehended, on June 29, 2014, converted the goods belonging to one Charles Aghadiuno – the complainant.
According to the Police, the gang sold the goods in the truck and converted the sum realized to their use. The defendants were also alleged to have held possession of the truck, a DAF X95 with registration number T-8792-LA.
At the proceedings, the alleged offences were said to have contravened section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. Section 18 (2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011 as Amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act and also contrary to section 383(2) (a) of Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 and punishable under Section 390(8)(b) of the same Act.
The charges against the defendant reads: “That you Yusuf Alli and two others at large on or about 29th June 2024 in Lagos state within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit stealing and fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you Yusuf Alli and others at large on or about 29th June 2024 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did sell and convert Daf X95 Truck R/NO. T-8792-LA Green head and grey body with goods value N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) Property of Mr Charles Aghadiuno to your own use and benefit which you knew or reasonably ought to have known was the proceed of an unlawful act by you to wit: Stealing and Fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 (2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011 as Amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.
“That you Yusuf Alli and others at large on or about 29th June 2024 in Lagos Within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud did steal and convert DAF X95 Truck R/NO. T-8792 LA with goods value N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) property of Mr. Charles Aghadiuno to confer a benefit on you and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(2) (a) of Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 and punishable under Section 390(8)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecution asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in the correctional center pending the conclusion of the trial.
Justice Ogazi ordered the remand of the defendant at the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), and adjourned the matter to October 29.