Court remands man for allegedly defrauding victim of £31,200, N72.6m

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has ordered the remand of one Heart Chidozie at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility for allegedly defrauding a victim of £31,200 and N72,689,000. The remand order followed Chidozie’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge, including obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. The EFCC alleged that, in 2023, Chidozie fraudulently obtained £31,200 from Peace Asonye Udochukwu under the pretext of securing a certificate of sponsorship.

Additionally, he was accused of dishonestly taking N72,689,000 from the same victim for a similar purpose. The prosecution argued that Chidozie’s actions violated sections 278(2) and 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, as well as section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. Chidozie pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment.



The EFCC’s counsel, Mr T. J. Banjo, requested the court to remand the defendant in custody pending his trial.

However, the defence counsel, Mr M.A. Oluwasheun, appealed to the court to consider his client’s bail application, which he had just filed.

Justice Oshodi scheduled the bail hearing for December 3, 2024, and fixed February 19 and 20, 2025, for the commencement of trial. In the interim, the judge ordered that Chidozie be held at the Ikoyi Custodial Facility..