Alleged $236,400 fraud: Court fixes date for trial of Lagos businessman Jerald Lebechi

Akin Kuponiyi

Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of Federal High Court, Lagos has adjourned till 24th of June, 2025 for the trial of a Lagos business man Jerald Uche Lebechi and his company for alleged Monarch and Co. International for alleged $236,400 fraud.

The Inspector General of the Nigerian Police force had filed 21 count amended charge of conspiracy and obtaining the sum of $236,400 by false pretense against the businessman and his company based on a two page petition dated 13th January, 2025, received from one Barrister Ese P. Okiti Esq, of COLUMBUS OKARO & CO.

The law firm wrote the petition on behalf of its client identified as Venatus Onwughalu.

In the petition, the law firm alleged that sometimes in August, 2021, Lebechi fraudulently obtained cumulative sum of two hundred and thirty-six thousand, four hundred United State dollars ($236,400.00) from Onwughalu. under the pretence of procuring travelling document to Grenada for him and his family.

But according to the petition, the promise turned out to be false, as no travelling document was procured for Onwughalu.

The petition further alleged that when nwughalu demanded for a refund of his money, Lebechi issued him 15 Union bank cheques, with account number: 0165966846, of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) each, totaling of one hundred and fifty million naira (N150,000,000.00).

However, upon presentation of the cheques in the bank, they were all returned dishonoured on ground of insufficient funds, hence, their report to the Police for investigation.

Following the conclusion of investigations, Police filed a case against Lebechi in Charge Number: FHC/L/308C/2025 dated 14th March, 2025 which was later amended on 7th April,2025 .