The trial of one Philemon Gora, Osigwe Edison and Gracious Environ Workers Limited & Planners Nigeria Limited before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N525 million fraud continued on Thursday with the trial court refusing bail for Gora, the first defendant, while granting bail to Edison, the second defendant, in the sum of N50 million.
The first defendant, Gora, was arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July 2021, following a petition alleging that he used one of his front companies, Gracious Environ Workers & Planners Nigeria Limited, to obtain the sum of N525million from a traditional ruler, Kabiyesi Jacob Esan of Ijesa, Osun State and owner of Liberitas Plc, with the assurance of helping him convert it to the United Arab Emirate, UAE, Dirham.
Gora, however, reneged on the agreement with the complainant, as investigation by the EFCC revealed that he, instead, transferred the money to his various accounts as well as to some Bureaux de Change operators, who confirmed giving him the Dollar equivalent in cash, which he diverted to his personal use.
The defendants were on December 6, 2021 arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on stealing, conspiracy to obtain by false witness and obtaining by false pretence.