The Amen of Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos on Thursday arraigned Ogochukwu Vincent Ofodume, an alleged fugitive businessman, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. He faces charges related to conspiracy, obtaining N342,997.00 million under false pretense, and unlawful fund conversion.
The defendant (Ofodume), along with his companies – Big V.I.P. Excallance Limited, V.I.P. Impress Hollywood Limited, and V.I.P. Apartments Limited—was brought before the court led by Justice Alexander Owoeye.
This was in relation to the alleged offences presented by Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer from the legal/prosecution section of ForceCID, Alagbon, Lagos.
During his address to the court, Animashaun stated that Ofodume and his firm were responsible for the offenses committed at various times in 2023.
The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant unlawfully acquired 1,228 bales of wax cloth, valued at N202,620 million, which belonged to a Chinese businessman, Zhu Yan Qin, via one Igwe Ejiofor Kelvin.
Ofodume and his firm face allegations of acquiring N45.2 million from a Chinese businessman under the false pretense of using the funds to purchase a container load of timber from the Republic of Guinea for a subsequent shipment to China.
He faced additional accusations of utilising all the funds fraudulently acquired from the Chinese businessman to build his VIP apartment.
Barrister Animashaun, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendant is suspected of breaking sections 8 (a) and 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Frauds and Other Frauds Related Offences Act 2006 (as amended), and that they are also breaking Section 1 (3) of the same Act, which makes them guilty.
The prosecutor informed the court that the offences violated Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C38, Laws of Federation 2004, and are punishable under the same Act.
Ofodume, however, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the defendant entered a plea of not guilty, Barrister Animashaun requested a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the trial takes place.
Counsel for the defendant, Felicia Nosike, made an oral application for his bail. The court mandated that she formally submit the application.
After the court’s decision, the lawyer asked for a short window of time to submit her client’s bail application.
Justice Owoeye, having considered the submissions from both parties, has adjourned the matter to March 28 for trial. The judge also remanded the defendant pending the hearing and resolution of his bail application.
The defendant had previously filed a N100 million fundamental rights enforcement suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2639/23, against the Inspector General of Police, several Interpol officers, and the fraud victim, the Chinese businessman Zhu Yan Qin, before his arraignment today.
Nonetheless, Justice Friday Ogazi dismissed the suit in November 2024, citing a lack of merit and imposing punitive costs.
Some of the charges against the defendant state: “That you, OGOCHUKWU VINCENT OFODUME (M), at some point in the year 2023, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, Lagos, conspired to commit an offence, specifically: obtaining money by false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Frauds and Other Frauds Related Offences Act 2006 (as amended) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 (as amended).”
