…Monalisa Okoye Accused of Obtaining N122m Under False Pretence of Supplying Interior Furnitures

Men of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos, have arraigned a businesswoman, Mrs. Monalisa Okoye, before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on 10 counts charge bordering on N122 million fraud, stealing and issuance of dud cheques.

The 35 years old defendant, who operate under the name of ‘Throne of Grace Interior and Events’, was accused of obtaining the said N122 million, from one Emmanuel Olabode, under false pretence of supplying interior furnitures.

The defendant according to the police, allegedly committed the offence between September 2017 and January 2018, at 19, Aboyade Cole, Victoria Island, Lagos.

She was also alleged to have issued several Zenith bank cheques, to the fraud victim, Olabode, which were rejected upon presentation at the bank for cashiment, due to insufficient funds in her account.

The offence according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable under sections 340 and 287, and 32 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following her plea of not guilty, her lawyer, Ikechukwu Anima, pleaded with the court to admit his client bail in the most liberal term.

The defendant’s lawyer also told the court that his client has credible suretiet, and promised that she will not jump bail, if granted.

However, in opposition to the defendant’s bail application, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, urged the court to refused the bail application on the ground that it took the police several months before the defendant could be apprehended.

Barrister Animashaun also informed the court that the police only arraigned the defendant pending when she would be arraign at the Federal High Court, on issuance of did cheques and other offences.

Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K. S. Abdulsalami, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in the like sum.

The magistrate also ordered that each of the sureties must furnish the court their statement of account of six months with having an account balance of the bail sums. Adding that one of the sureties must show evidence of land use charge on his/her landed properties, in highbrow of the state for years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Magistrate Abdulsalam also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence on means of livelihood.

The magistrate while adjourning the matter till June 7, for trial, orders that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.

Count one of the charge against the defendant reads: “that you Mrs. Monallsa Okoye, trading under the name and style of Throne of Grace interiors and Events, between September 2017 and January 2018 at No. 19, Bishop Aboyade Cole, Victorial lsland Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did by false pretence obtained the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Two Million Naira (N122,000,000.00), from one Emmanuel Olabode ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sect‘on 314(a) of the Criminal Law. 2015.

And another count reads : “that you Mrs. Monalisa Okoye ‘f’ trading under the name and style of Throne of Grace Interiors and Events between September 2017 and January 2018 in the Lagos Magisterial District did Steal the sum of One Hundred and twenty-Two Million Naira, (N122, 000, 000. 00) property of one Emmanuel Olabode ‘m’ and ‘ thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sectlon 287 of the of the Criminal Law of 215.

While another count reads: “that you Mrs. Monalisa Okoye ‘F’, trading under the name and style of Throne of Grace interiors and Events between September 2017 and January 2018 in the Lagos Magisterial District did with an intent to defraud, issued a Zenith Bank Plc cheque No 37401705 dated 17 January, 2018, for the sum N10 million, only, in favour to one Emmanuel Olabode ‘m’ which the cheque upon presentation for payment was dishonoured on grounds of insufficient funds in the account and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 321(b) of the Criminal Law, of Lagos State, 2015.

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