Man arraigned for alleged N20m fraud in Lagos

A 47-year-old man, Erivona Yoma, was arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting in the Yaba area of Lagos State for allegedly defrauding an agricultural company, Pally Agro Nigeria Limited, of N20 million.

Yoma is accused of defrauding Pally Agro by falsely representing the purchase and supply of planting materials and soya beans, diverting the funds for personal use.

Presented before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on Friday, he faces three charges, including felony, obtaining money by false pretense, and theft, as brought forth by the police.

The prosecutor, Rita Momoh, informed the court that the defendant committed the offense in 2021 and has been evading arrest. The charges fall under Sections 411, 314(B), and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.

The charges read, “That you, Erivona Great Yoma, and others at large, sometime in 2021 in Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wits obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

“That you, Erivona Great Yoma, and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the total sum of twenty million naira, from one Pally Agro Nigeria Limited, to purchase planting materials and soya beans. A representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (8) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

“That you, Erivona Yoma, ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the total sum of twenty million naira from one Pally Agro Nig. Ltd. and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

The charges were presented to the accused, Yoma, who entered a plea of not guilty. Magistrate Olatunbosun, in response to the defendant’s plea, approved bail in the amount of N10 million, requiring three reliable sureties with an equal sum, including one who must be a landowner in Lagos State.

Additionally, she emphasized the necessity for the court to authenticate all documentation provided by the sureties. The case has been adjourned to April 15, 2024, for further proceedings.