The Police in Lagos arraigned a 35-year-old woman, Rukayya Dantata, before the state’s Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly defrauding a Bureau de Change operator of N350,900,000.
The police docked Dantata before Justice Rahmon Oshodi on a two-count charge of fraud, cheating, and obtaining money under false pretences.
The police prosecutor, Ezekiel Rimamsomte, told the judge that the defendant committed the alleged offences between July and August 2022.
Rimamsomte further informed the court that the defendant obtained N350,900,000 by fraudulent means, which was then transferred into her Zenith Bank account, 2082551256, and her firm Adat Ventures account, 1014937041, under the name Rukayya Saadina Dantata.
He also claimed that the defendant deceived her victims, Saka Rasak of Rosiyike and others of Financial Consultant Ltd, located at 50 Kingsway Building, Lagos, by pretending to conduct legitimate business transactions.
The prosecutor further maintained that the offences violated Section 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and Section 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Dantata, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following her plea, the defence counsel, David Igbodo, urged the judge to grant the defendant bail under the most liberal terms.
Igbodo stated, “The defendant has complied with all police and EFCC summons and has not jumped bail despite her health challenges.”
The lawyer further informed the court that Dantata’s husband, Alhaji Ismaih Singer, and one Otunba Olutaye Ariyo were in court to secure her bail.
Rimamsomte did not oppose the bail application but left the decision to the court’s discretion.
In a short ruling, Justice Oshodi granted the defendant bail of N30 million, with two sureties in like sum.
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