THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a British citizen, Anthony Boyson (alias Armstrong Christopher), before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere for allegedly defrauding Pilgrims Africa Limited of the sum of $227,035.
Boyson was charged together with Nwamadi Monica (alias Anozie C. Happiness) and Marisec Services Limited on a nine-count charge of fraud. They pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them in English language.
Monica and Boyson were accused of defrauding pilgrims through Marisec by falsely pretending to be Mr. Jacobus Marthinus Claasens, Managing Director of said company.
Part of the charge reads: "Anthony Boyson (a.k.a. Armstrong Christopher), Nwamadi Monica CHA (a.k.a. Anozie C. Happiness) and Marisec Services Limited on or about the 16th day of February, 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $98,000 (Ninety Eight Thousand United States Dollars) from Pilgrims Africa Limited through Marisec Services Limited, Zenith Bank Account Number 4071000273 by falsely pretending to be Mr. Jacobus Marthinus Claasens of Pilgrims Africa Limited that the money represented the cost of hiring one vessel, Lady Mary T, at $7,000 (Seven Thousand United States Dollars) per day from the period 16th February, 2011 to 1st March, 2011 which pretence you knew to be false."
Counsel to EFCC, Mr. ABC Ozioko, said he had two witnesses, praying the court to grant him leave to withdraw some of the initial information in the charge sheet and amend same.
He argued that it was right for the prosecution to amend information at any time before judgement, and urged the court to give him one week to enable him file a written submission on the motion over the seizure of the defendants' passport and laptop.
Ozioko pointed out that items collected from the defendants by the commission were received in the course of investigation and had something to do with the amended information.
But counsel to the defendants, Mr. A. Festus, in his objection, argued that the new information was served him yesterday morning, stressing that he has not gone though it, neither have the defendants seen it.
Festus argued that in line with the law, materials seized should be attached as exhibit, noting that there was nowhere it was written in the prosecutor's information that passport was received.
He reminded the court that there was an existing application before it to that effect, adding that, "it will be travesty of justice if we go into the trial, without considering that application."
After listening to the argument of both counsel, the trial judge, Justice Deborah Oluwayemi overruled Festus' objection and granted the applicants leave to amend the charges.
Ozioko consequently urged the court to take the plea of the defendants since the old information had been withdrawn.
Thereafter, the judge adjourned the matter to November 2, 2012 for continuation of trial and hearing of motion.
