The Lagos State Police have brought charges against Omafume Ayinuola, a chartered accountant, and her mother, Lydia Ehrievuyere, before the Federal High Court in a case involving an alleged fraud of N1.07 billion and $975,102.58.
Ayinuola and Ehrievuyere, along with their company, Patridia Resources Limited, appeared before Justice Nicholas Oweibo facing a 15-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful conversion of funds, money laundering, and fraud. The charges were brought forth by the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Alagbon.
During the proceedings, police prosecutor Morufu Animashaun asserted that the defendants were involved in the alleged criminal activities between 2017 and 2021 at Trailer Park, Agbara, Lagos.
Animashaun stated that the defendants purportedly engaged in fraudulent activities against several companies, including Oritsetimeyin Logistics Limited, PUO Assets Limited, Resolution Capital Limited, Pine Petosan Limited, Grace Capital Ltd, RsL International Limited, RsL Ventures Capital Limited, Grace & Mercy Capital Limited, Grace Assets Limited, and Peter Ukuoritsemofe Ololo.
The prosecutor alleged that Ayinuola, while employed by the aforementioned companies, misappropriated substantial sums of money totaling N1,072,254,411 billion and $975,102.58 USD for personal use.
Furthermore, Animashaun stated that the second defendant and her company, Patridia Resources Limited, concealed the origin of the funds they received from the first defendant. Allegedly, part of these funds was used to acquire and develop a family house located at 14 Irawodidia Street, Obadore, Off LASU Road, Igando, Lagos.
The charges levied against the defendants are in violation of various sections of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006. The prosecution urged the court to remand the defendants at the Kirikiri female section of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the conclusion of the trial and requested a trial date.
Defence lawyer John Oladeji revealed that he had submitted bail applications for his clients, which had been electronically served to the prosecutor. He requested that the court hear the applications and allow the defendants to be granted bail.
However, Animashaun objected to the immediate hearing of the bail applications, stating the need for time to address certain aspects raised in the applications.
Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to August 23, 2023, for the bail applications’ hearing and remanded the defendants at the Kirikiri Centre of the NCoS.
