Police officer remanded in prison for N123 Million fraud in Lagos

A police officer identified as Jerry Ogunsakin, has been remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) in Lagos, by a Federal High Court,  for allegedly obtaining by false pretenses and unlawful conversion of N128 million. Ogunsakin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was brought before Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos.

The prosecuting counsel, Chukwu Agwu, representing Justine Enang, of PSFU Ikoyi, Lagos, informed the court that the defendant committed the offences on November 15, 2022.

Agwu stated that the defendant , in collaboration with accomplices who are currently at large, fraudulently obtained N128 million, from a businessman named  Esomonu Everest, by claiming they possessed  United States Dollars (USD) equivalent for sale.
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The prosecutor further informed  the court that the defendant conspired with  individuals identified as Ogbu Patricia a.k.a. Lamba, Michael Babatunde a.k.a Orija, Bolaji Sobande a.k.a. Barr Onifade, Peter Ben and Alhaja Idris Wada a.k.a. Coker, who are currently fugitives.

The defendant was accused of converting the said sum of N128 million for his personal use. The prosecution highlighted that this action contravenes the  provision of sections 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, as well as Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as Amended in 2012.
Upon pleading not guilty, the prosecution counsel asked the court for trial date, and to remand the defendant in the correctional facility till the determination of the charge.

His counsel, Mr. Kole Bello, did not oppose the prosecutor’s request. Justice Aneke, therefore, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of NCoS and adjourned to July 19, 2023, for trial.