Court Remands BDC Operators In Prison Over Alleged N71m Fraud

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded two Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators, Zakari Zadu and Jubrilla Yakubu, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) for their alleged involvement in an N71 million fraud.

Zadu and Yakubu were arraigned before the court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud of N71 million by men of the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department Force CID.

The police prosecutor, Sunday Ayodele, had earlier told Justice Awogboro that the defendants, sometime in August 2022, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained N71 million from one Suleiman Jibbo, with the pretence of converting the sum to foreign currency.

Ayodele also informed the judge that the defendants, after collecting the sum from their victim, diverted it into their pockets and used the money for purposes other than what was initially planned.

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He further maintained that the offences are contrary to sections 8(a) and 1(1)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The prosecutor also told the court that their alleged crimes are contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

Based on their pleas, Ayodele urged the court to fix a trial date and remanded the defendants in prison pending the conclusion of the trial.

The defence lawyers, Bamidele Ibironke and John Ujah informed the court that they had filed and served their clients’ bail applications to the prosecutor.

They, however, stated that the court’s bailiff is yet to serve a copy on the court and that the judge should grant them a short date for the processes to be perfected.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro, while ruling on the parties’ submission, adjourned the matter till Friday, March 31, for the bail hearing while she fixed April 18 for the commencement of the defendant’s trial.

Justice Awogboro also ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison till the hearing and determination of their bail application.