•As Police Pointed Accusing Fingers At Businessman Of Issuing Sterling Bank Dud Cheque
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Ikoyi, Lagos, has revealed to the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, that the alter-ego of the Global Mercantile & Corporate Logistics Limited (GMC), Chief Sonny Allison, allegedly committed fraud to the tune of N72 million and issuance of dud cheques.
The PSFU made the revelation during the arraignment of Chief Sonny Allison before the court, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa.
Chief Sonny Allison, who was arraigned before the judge on June 15, 2023, on the charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques, was alleged to have used his firm to fraudulently obtain the sum of N72 million, from a company, Sthenic Capital Management Limited, with the pretence of using the said sum to execute a contract project, which he had got an approved Local Purchase Order (LPO) for.
The PSFU further pointed accusing fingers at Chief Sonny Allison for converting the said sum to his personal use, instead of using it for the purpose he obtained it for.
While arguing that Chief Sonny Allison committed the offence in May 2021, the PSFU insisted that the businessman had on February 17, 2022, issued two Sterling Bank Plc’s Cheques numbered 00104770 and 00104772 which were rejected when presented at the bank due to lack of adequate funds.
The police also hinted to the court that Chief Sonny Allison's alleged offence and that of his company contravened Sections 8(a) and 1(i)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The PSFU equally posited that the offence is contrary to Section 15(2){b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, 2011) as amended in 2012, and Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act, Cap 011, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
But Chief Sonny Allison pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Meanwhile, the scheduled trial of Chief Sonny Allison alongside his firm before the court on Thursday, November 9, 2023, could not go on.
At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Justine Enang, told Justice Lewis-Allagoa, that the prosecution was ready for the trial.
However, counsel for the defence, Ndubuisi O, pleaded that he needed more time to study the proof of evidence just served on him by the prosecution.
As a result of this, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter until December 12, 2023, for the commencement of the trial.
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