By Thompson ABISOLA
An oil and gas trader, Christy Tafida, on Tuesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a company of N35 million.
The Tafida, 53, was arraigned alongside her company, Yaklabbs Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. for defrauding Virtue-One Global Investment Limited. They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, issuance of dud cheques and fraud.
The Prosecutor, SP. Chukwu Agwu, told court that the accused committed the offences with some other persons still at large between August, 2015 and 2017 at Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi Lagos.
Agwu said the accused collected N35 million from the company, which was represented by Mr Peters Udeagu.
He said the accused had issued cheques as a means of paying back the money but that the cheques were dishonoured, due to insufficient funds.
The offences contravened Sections 314 (a) (b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Augustine Okechukwu, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, disclosing that the two parties had been meeting to resolve the issue.
“The complainant has already been paid N10 million out of the money and there are responsible sureties that can stand for her if granted bail,” he said.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Afolashade Botoku, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.
She said the sureties should submit their international passports and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until Sept. 27 for trial.
