17th October, 2016
A middle-aged man, Fredrick Omorege, on Monday appeared before a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly defrauding his victims of over N6.7 million.
The Police Prosecutor, Mr Femi Falade, told the court that the accused obtained the said amount under false pretence between May and August at Isato and Ayedun streets in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The charge sheet read:
“That you, Fredrick Omorege, m, operating under the business name ‘Richardlie Multiglobal Ventures at Isato and Ayedun Street, Ado-Ekiti, under false pretence of being registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as Thrift and Loan Investment Company;
“With intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of N6,776,500 from Omolade Bunmi, Ojo Abiola, Ige Odunayo, Adeoye Odunayo and others through your agents.”
According to the prosecutor, the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
He prayed the court for adjournment to enable him prepare his over 20 witnesses for the case.
Falade also told the court that he would not be opposing the bail application made by counsel to the accused.
He, however, said the nominal complainants were more interested in the recovery of their money and that if the accused was sincere with his promise to repay, he would not oppose his bail application.
NAN reports that the accused pleaded not guilty to the one count charge against him, when the court read it to him.
His counsel, Mr Christopher Omokhafe, made an oral bail application in favour of his client in pursuant to Section 162 of the Criminal Administration Justice, Act, 2016.
The Judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N7million with two sureties in like sum.
“Bail is a right of an accused in a case that is not capital in nature; this case is a bailable offence.
“The accused is to deposit his traveling document with the court’s Registrar in addition to other bail conditions, ” Justice Taiwo ordered.
He then adjourned the case to Nov.29, Nov. 30 and Dec.1 for definite trial, saying: “no wasting of time for the trial.”