A businessman whom the Police alleged just returned from Malaysia, Moritz Ani, 37, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly conniving with others still at large between 2004 and 2008 to steal properties and USD30,000 valued N72m belonging to his friend and business partner, Mr Hilary Ugo.
The. Police also alleged that the accused and others in October, 2017 at VGC Estate, Lagos conducted themselves in a
manner likely to cause breach of peace by barricading the complainant’s gate, parading his company premises and
preventing him from going about his lawful business.
The accused, according to the police was arrested on the order of the Assistant Inspector General of Police,AIG in charge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, Adamu Ibrahim following a petition by Moritz Ani.
Ani was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on a five-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining goods under false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Police Prosecutor, Fransis Igbinosa informed the court in charge No K/62/2017 that the accused and others committed the alleged offence between 2004, 2008 and 2017 at 9, Debo Ani, Omole Estate and VGC Estate, Lagos.
Igbinosa told the Court that the accused collected 55,000 pieces of female clothes at the rate of N400 valued at N22m from his friend and business partner, Hilary Ugo at his Suite A103, Ikota Shopping,Victoria Island, Lagos to sell and make profit and refund the sales proceeds to the complainant, but instead, the accused allegedly sold the goods and converted the money to his use.
Igbinosa alleged that the accused also went to the residence of the complainant at Omole Estate, Lagos to steal gold jewelries, car,
land documents, International Passport,Bank cheque booklets and the sum of USD30,000 all valued at N50m and escaped to Malaysia.
He said the accused was arrested when he returned to Nigeria in 2017 thinking that the complainant had forgotten the matter.
The accused, however. pleaded not guilty to the charge in the open court and his Counsel, Gani Oyarebhagbe prayed the Court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms promising that he will not jump bail.
Magistrate, Mrs O.Kusanu admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till 24 November, 2017 for mention.
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
