The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 17, 2016 arraigned one Paul Adams, his company, Paulad Continental MGT Limited alongside one Yusuf Mohammed and Suleiman Ahmed before Justice M. M. Dodo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama Abuja, on an 11-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery and obtaining under false pretence.
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The accused persons allegedly conspired to swindle one Nnamdi Joseph Omego to the tune of N210million under the guise of procuring an estate land for him in Abuja.
The offence is contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
One of the counts reads:
“PAUL ADAMS (BEING THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PAULAD CONTINENTAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED), PAULAD CONTINENTAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED IBRAHIM YUSUF MOHAMMED, SULEIMAN AHMED (PRINCE) AND HAJIYA LAMI SAFIYA UMAR (DECEASED) sometime between August 2011 and April, 2012 at Abuja, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourself to do an illegal act to wit: obtain the sum of N106,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one NNAMDI JOSEPH OMEGO under the false pretence that you have procured for him an estate land within Abuja which representation you knew to be false.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Andrew A. Akoja asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants in prison custody.
However, V. I. Nnagi representing first, second and fourth accused persons prayed the court to admit his clients to bail adding that the offence is bailable. His prayer was also adopted by Yusuf Abdullaihi standing for the third accused person.
Their prayers, though objected to by Akoja was granted by Justice Dodo who admitted the third and fourth accused persons to bail in the sum of N20million each with one surety each. The sureties must have landed properties with authentic title documents within Abuja.
However, the judge ordered the first and second defendants to be remanded in prison custody pending the time a proper application would be filed for their bail.
The case has been adjourned to March 24, 2016 for trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
17th March, 2016