EFCC Rearraigned Bizman For N84m Theft

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a businessman, Adrian Ididia, the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over an alleged N84 million theft.

Ididia was arraigned before Justice Ismail on a two-count amended charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretence.

The defendant was sometime in November 2021 docked before Justice Serifat Solebo, now retired, and was granted bail.

The EFCC counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, had alleged that Ididia obtained money by false pretence contrary to Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

The prosecutor claimed that the defendant obtained N84 million from one Mark Umeh to defraud him.

He also told the court that the defendant had falsely represented that he had three Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for sale in September 2019, even though he knew his claim was untrue.

Okongwu insisted that the offence of stealing was contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, No 11, 2011.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Part of the charge read that Adrian Osagie Ididia, between the 13th day of September 2019 and the 29th day of October 2019 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly stole and converted to your use the sum of N84,000,000.00 property of Mr Mark David Umeh.

Based on his plea, EFCC counsel prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison and fixed a trial date.

Justice Ijelu  fixed May 22 for ruling on the bail application and, therefore, released Ididia to Awosika until the next adjourn date.