Lukman Olabiyi
Two brothers, David Okwuanalu, 26, and Graham Mike Okwuanalu, 28, were arraigned, on Tuesday, before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for having allegedly defrauded two Bureau De Change operators of $50, 000, USD fraud.
The Okwuanalu brothers were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi by the police on four counts charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
The offences, according to the Prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obiazi, are contrary to and punishable under sections 8(a) and 1(a)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
During their arraignment, on Tuesday, the Prosecutor, told the court the two Okwuanalu brothers and others, now at large had, between August and December, 2016, fraudulently obtained a total sum of $50, 000, from two bureau De Change operators, under false pretence of change the said US Dollars to Nigeria currency.
Obiazi told the court that while the younger Okwuanalu defrauded one Alhaji Mukaila Tella, of the sum of $20, 000, his elder brother, Graham, defrauded Alhaji Abdullahi Seriki of the sum of $30, 000.
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The Prosecutor also told the court that since the charge was filed last year, the two brothers had been playing hide and seek to avoid prosecution.
He added that they filed a fundamental rights suit against the police on the allegations, but the suit was dismissed with N500, 000, cost, by Justice Ibrahim Buba, of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The two brothers, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the Prosecutor urged for a trial date, while also asked the court to remand them in prison custody, pending the conclusion of the matter.
However, lawyer to the accused brothers, C. A. Anichebe, urged the court to strike out the charge against his clients for been incompetent and abuse of court’s processes.
Anichebe told the court that police had filed a similar charge against his clients before another judge of the same court and that the charge had been struck out.
Ruling on the submissions of the parties, Justice Kuewumi, while ordered that the two accused brothers be remanded in prison custody, ordered their lawyer to file all necessary documents for his clients’ bail.
The matter was adjourned till October 23, for hearing of the bail applications.