Couples have been arraigned before Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, over N17.5m fraud allegations.
The couple, one Alice John and her boyfriend, Fadi Alloush, were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office on a three counts charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining the said sum under false pretences.
The offences were said to be contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State.
When the charge was read to the couple, they pleaded not guilty
Subsequently, EFCC counsel, Dr Ben Ubi, applied for a trial date, while the defence counsel, Olukunle Kamisi, prayed the court to allow the bail earlier granted the defendants to subsist.
In his short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the defendants’ prayers and adjourned till October 8, 2020, for continuation of trial.
The couple were initially arraigned before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the same Court on March 17, 2020, but were re-arraigned following the reassignment of the case to Justice Taiwo.
Between January and December 2019, the victim, Houssam Nasreddine, allegedly transferred the sum of N17.5m to John’s account for the purchase of charcoal from Iwere lle, Oyo State, for exportation, which the defendant bought and loaded in containers at the Hapag Lloyd Shipping Company, Apapa, Lagos.
Rather than sell the goods in the name of the rightful owner, she allegedly connived with her boyfriend, Alloush, to change the ownership of the goods and sold them off.
The petitioner added that all efforts to retrieve either the charcoal or his money were frustrated by the defendants.
