Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has convicted a serial fraudster, Blessing Adanu, in absentia for defrauding a businesswoman of N47.6 million on the pretext of supplying her agricultural produce.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada found Adanu guilty of a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had accused the convict of committing the offences between November 30, 2018, and January 11, 2019, in Lagos.
The anti-graft agency had claimed that Adanu traded under the name of Emerald Multipurpose Cooperative Society to defraud her victim in a purported agribusiness scheme.
The EFCC had also told the court that the convict dishonestly stole and converted to her use a cumulative sum of N47.6 million from Mrs Favour Nnamani, in contravention of Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.
In her judgement, Justice Dada held that evidence before the court, including statements made by the convict during interrogations, proved all the essential ingredients of obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
The judge also dismissed the defence argument that the charges emanated from civil contractual disputes.
She held, “As noted by the prosecution, most economical and financial crimes arose from transactions that had a semblance of contractual transactions.
“The defendant’s oral testimony in court that the agribusiness was affected by flooding and Fulani herdsmen attack was an afterthought.
“She wanted to be living big at the expense of other people without counting the cost.
“Although the defendant seems to have absconded, having jumped bail graciously granted her by this court, the truth is that she cannot run away from justice.
“From the preceding, therefore, the evidence before the court clearly shows that the case against the defendant has been proved beyond every reasonable doubt on the two counts of obtaining N47.6 million under false pretences.
“I, at this moment, declare the defendant guilty as charged on the two counts,” Justice Dada held.
The convict’s sentencing was, however, suspended by Sections 321 and 352 (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act, 2015, in conjunction with Section 278 (1) of the ACJ Law 2015, pending when she will be apprehended and brought before the court.
The counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Samuel Daji, had called three witnesses through whom several pieces of documentary evidence were tendered and admitted against the convict.
The defence counsel, Mr Olarewaju Ajanaku, called four witnesses, including the defendant, who testified as the fourth witness.
After the closure of the case of the defence on June 30, 2022, the defendant stopped appearing in court.
Based on the above, Daji, on November 3, 2022, applied to the court to revoke the defendant’s bail and allow the trial to continue in her absence.
There was no objection from the defence.
The judge revoked the bail and issued a bench warrant for Adanu’s arrest.
The judge ordered that the EFCC should declare her wanted.
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