The operatives of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has arraigned a man, Jerald Uche Lebechi, for alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing, fraud of $236,400. 00 USD fraud and issuance of dud cheques.
Jerald and his firm, Monarch and Co. Limited, were arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Kala of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on the 21 counts charge of the alleged offences, on Tuesday.
At the arraignment of the defendants, the prosecutor, Eliot Ejie, informed the court that the defendant, his firm and others now at large, sometimes in August 2021, conspired among themselves to commit the alleged offences.
Precisely, the prosecutor told the court that the defendants and others now at large, conspired among themselves and defrauded one Venatus Onwughalu, of the sum of $236, 400.00 USD, under the pretence of procuring three Grenada passports and visas for him and his family members.
The defendant and his firm were also accused of issuing 15 dud Union Bank cheques with the total sum of N150 million, in 2024, but were rejected due to insufficient funds in his account.
He was allege to have issues the cheques from his another company’s account beating with the name ‘Monarchandco International Limited’.
The prosecutor, Barrister Ejie, told the court that the defendant’s acts, contravened sections 8(a) and 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Acct.
Sections 383 (1); 516(4)(1)of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004 and punishable under Section 220 of the same Act. And Section 18(2) and 15 (2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, No. 11, 2011 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The prosecutor also said the alleged illegal acts of the defendant is contrary to Section 15 (2)(b), Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, No. 11, 2011 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The defendant however denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court to a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) centre, pending the determination of the charge.
The prosecutor also told the court that he has an application for the preservation of the proceed of the crime, which he intend to move.
But lawyer to the defendant, Anthony C. Lebechi, while conceding to the adjournment sought by the prosecutor, however, pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable him bring his client’s bail application before the court.
Based on the counsel plea, the court adjourned the matter to next week Monday for hearing of bail application, and other pending applications. While also ordered that the defendant be remanded at Ikoyi center of the NCoS pending the hearing aid determination of his bail.
Count one of the charge against the defendants read: “That you, Mr. JERALD UCHE LEBECHI ‘M’, MONARCH AND CO LIMITED, and others at large, sometimes in August, 2021, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court,with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining money from one MR VENATUS ONWUGHALU, by false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a), Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Acct.
While the last charge reads: “that you. MR. JERALD UCHE LEBECHI ‘M’, MONARCH AND CO LIMITED and others at large, sometimes in July, 2024, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did issue a Union Bank of Nigeria Plc cheque number: 00000120, dated 22th July, 2024, with account number: 0165966846, account name: Monarchandco International Limited, for sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) to one Venatus Onwughalu, which upon presentation in the bank was dishonoured on ground of insufficient funding, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b), Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 1(1)(a) &(ii) of the same Act.”
