A Chinese national, Che Gou Yao, has been remanded at the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), by a Lagos Federal High Court, over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, multiple frauds, and attempted suicide.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro ordered the remand of the China businessman, after he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him by the police following complaints by his compatriot, Jin Jiaoni and a company, Longshen Construction International Limited.
The defendant who resides at 23 Sule Abuka off Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, according to the prosecutor, O. Ekweizor of legal section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, sometimes between January and December 2019, Yao falsely and fraudulently obtained the sums of £250, 000; €6000 and 280, 000 Chinese Yuan RMB, from one Xi Dimei.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from his victim with false pretence of establishing and run a Hospitality/Hotel business and Incorporate a Company in the name Furama Commercial Company Limited.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant on October, 2021, attempted suicide, when he knew that his criminal acts had been exposed.
He told the court that the defendant’s acts, contravened Sections 8(a); 1(c)of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the said Act.
He also told the court that the defendant acts contravened Sections 390; 421 andb327of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant pleaded not guilty and his lawyer asked that he be admitted to bail in various terms but he is yet to meet the bail terms.
The case has been adjourned for hearing on April 24 and 25.
The count one, two and five against the defendant reads: “that you CHEN GUO YAO, JIN JIAONI and LONGSHEN CONSTRUCTION INTL LTD between January and December 2019 at No 23 Sule Abuka off Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos in Lagos Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the said Act.
“That you CHEN GUO YAO, JIN JIAONI and LONGSHEN CONSTRUCTION INT’L LTD between January and December 2019 at No 23 Sule Abuka off Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos in Lagos Judicial Division of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud did by False Pretence obtain Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds (£250, 000), Sixty Thousand Euros (€60000) and Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand RMB (280, 000) from XI Dimei to carry out and run a Hospitality/ Hotel business and incorporate a Company in the name Furama Commercial Company Ltd, a representation you knew to be false as you fraudulently converted the said sums to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the said Act.
“That you CHEN GUO YAO ‘m’ in October, 2021 at No 23 Sule Abuka off Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos in Lagos Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did attempt to kill yourself or commit suicide and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
