Court Remands BDC Operator Over Theft Of N157m

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Bamidele Atoyebi, also known as Bam-Bam in prison over allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences and stealing N157 million, belonging to traders in Alaba, Lagos.

Justice Aluko ordered that Atoyebi should be kept in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services after he was arraigned before him by the prosecutors from the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

The police prosecutor, Sunday Ayodele, had earlier told the court that the defendant was arrested on the strength of a petition written to the police by the alleged victim’s lawyer, Mejulu Henry.

Ayodele had also told the court that the defendant and others now at large, between December 2022 and January 2023, obtained the total sum of N157,206 million, with the pretence of providing to him the United States dollars (USD) equivalent of the sum.

He claimed that the defendant collected the money from the trader’s representative, Mrs. Priscillia Oyiowo, through one Obinna Ozuah.

The defendant was accused by the police to have diverted the money for personal use.

The prosecutor also maintained that the offences contravened sections 8(a) and 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Offences A8 Vol 1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Ayodele also told the court that the offense of stealing violated Section 383 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and was punishable under section 390 (9) of the same Act.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following the plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date and also remand the defendant in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the conclusion of the trial.

But the defence lawyer, E. A. Alafin, told the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and the same had been served on the prosecution.

He urged the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms but the application was opposed by the prosecutor, who said he needed time to read through the application and file his response.

Based on the development, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to October 5, 2023, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.