Court Remands Chinese Over Alleged Fraud, Attempted Suicide

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded a Nigerian-based Chinese businessman, Chen Gou Yao, at the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, multiple frauds and attempted suicide.

Justice  Awogboro ordered that the foreigner be kept behind bars after he pleaded not guilty to the allegations brought against him and his company,  Longshen Construction International Limited, by the men of the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, ForceCID, Ikoyi.

The police prosecutor, O. Ekweizor, had earlier told the judge that Chen Gou Yao, who resides at 23 Sule Abuka off Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, sometime between January and December 2019, falsely and fraudulently obtained the sums of £250,000; 6000 Euros and 280,000 Chinese Yuan RMB, from one XI Dimei.

Ekweizor also informed the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from his victim under the false pretence of establishing and running a Hospitality/Hotel business and Incorporating a Company in the name of Furama Commercial Company Limited.

The prosecutor claimed that the defendant, on October 2021, attempted suicide when he knew that his criminal acts had been exposed.

Ekweizor insisted that the offences contravened sections 8(a); 1(c)of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and were punishable under Section 1(3) of the said Act.

He also said the defendant alleged crimes violated sections 390, 421, andb327of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendant has been admitted to bail by the court on various terms but has yet to meet the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, Justice Awogboro has adjourned the matter to April 24, 2023, for the commencement of the trial.