The operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) have arraigned a businessman, Jerald Lebechi, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged fraud amounting to $236,400 related to passport and visa scams.
Lebechi was docked alongside his firm, Monarch and Co. Limited, before Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Court in Lagos on a 21-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, stealing, and the issuance of dud cheques.
The police prosecutor, Eliot Ejie, informed the court that the defendant, his firm, and others still at large, conspired to commit the alleged offences in August 2021.
Ejie further told the court that the defendants allegedly defrauded one Venatus Onwughalu of $236,400 under the false pretence of procuring three Grenada passports and visas for him and his family
He also claimed that the defendants issued 15 dud cheques from Union Bank totalling N150 million in 2024, which were rejected due to insufficient funds in their bank accounts.
The prosecutor stated that the cheques were issued from another company registered as ‘Monarch And Co International Limited’ account.
Ejie maintained that the defendant’s actions violated sections 8(a) and 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006, which are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
He also insisted that the offences violated sections 383(1) and 516(4)(1) of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004, punishable under Section 220 of the same Act.
Additionally, he said the crimes are contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, No. 11, 2011, which is punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Lebechi, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following his plea, the prosecutor requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) centre pending the outcome of the trial.
Ejie also informed the judge that he has an application for the preservation of the proceeds of the crime, which he intended to present to the court.
The defence lawyer, Anthony Lebechi, while conceding to the prosecutor’s request for an adjournment, asked the court for a short date to file his client’s bail application.
In light of the defence counsel’s request, Justice Kala adjourned the matter to April 14 for the hearing of the bail application and other pending applications.
The judge further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.
