A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, adjourned to Nov. 3, the trial of a Lagos businesswoman, Clara Anthony, charged with an alleged N643.8 million fraud. Lagos City Guide
Anthony is standing trial before Justice Ibrahim Kala, alongside a company, Flourish Claire Concept. They are charged with 17 counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by fraud, dishonest conversion and stealing.
She was arraigned by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) on Nov. 25, 2024, and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court had granted her bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
On March 12, the prosecution called a first prosecution witness, who began giving their testimony. But the matter was adjourned to July 2.
On July 2, the case could not proceed because of the absence of the defendant and the case was then adjourned to Oct. 6 for continuation of trial.
When the case was called on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr Samuel Ogala, informed the court that the defendant was again absent from the court, adding that her counsel was not also in court.
He urged the court to revoke the bail of the defendant, and issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
In a short ruling, Justice Kala revoked the bail of the defendant and issued a bench warrant for her arrest by the police, and adjourned the case to Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, as parties were about leaving the court, the defendant suddenly showed up , and informed the court that she was unable to reach her lawyer as he had not been taking her calls.
She apologised to the court while saying she may need to get another lawyer to represent her.
But while reacting, the prosecutor urged the court to take recognise the four prosecution witnesses who were present in court while pleading that the defendant should not be allowed to delay the trial.
But Justice Kala ordered the defendant to be present with her counsel on the next adjourned date unfailingly.
The court vacated the earlier bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant, but warned the defendant make herself available with her counsel on the next adjourned date, or risk a revocation of her bail.
According to the charge, the defendant was said to have committed the offences sometime in August 2023, at Oregun in Lagos. Lagos City Guide
She was alleged to have fraudulently obtained several sums of money from Lagos traders, under a false pretence of investing the money in rice business.
According to the prosecution, the defendant obtained several millions in tranches from various traders, using the name her company (second defendant).
She was alleged to have obtained the sums of N56 million, N36 million, N58.05 million, N20.5 million N3.2 million, N410 million, N6. 1 million and N54 million from different traders under the guise of investing the money in rice business.
The alleged offences contravene the provisions of section 1(1)(a-c), and section 8(a, b, and c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006.Lagos City Guide
They also contravene the provisions of section 390 of the Criminal Code Act 2004.
(NAN)