Chinese woman docked over fraud, remanded in prison

A Chinese woman, Zhou Jun, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, for allegedly obtaining money through false pretense from some Nigerian businessmen.

52-year-old Jun, who allegedly committed the offence in connivance with others, now at large, was arraigned on 16-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, fraud and obtaining money through false pretense.

She was brought before Justice Ayo Emmanuel on Tuesday, who ordered the she be remanded in Agodi prison after taking her plea.

Jun and others at large were alleged of obtaining precious stones that valued about N36.6 million from some businessmen in Ibadan under the pretence of paying on delivery, knowing same to be false.

According to charge number FHC/ IB/39c/ 2014, Zhou Jun connived with other runaway suspects sometimes in 2011 at Ibadan to obtain precious stones valued N5,400,000,00 from one Awokson Dilan Shem under the pretence of paying for the goods on delivery knowing same to be false.

She was said to have committed the offence contrary to and punishable under section 8(A) of the advance free fraud and other fraud related offence act cap. A6 vol. 1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The suspects, in count three of the charge, were also accused of obtaining precious stones valued N11,666,140.00 from one Abdulahi Sani Mayanchi, under false pretence of paying for the goods on delivery knowing same to be false.

Again, Jun and others at large were accused of obtaining precious stones valued N17,850,000 from one AbdulRaman Mohammed under the pretence of paying for the goods on delivery knowing same to be false and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and other fraud related offence Act Cap. A6 Vol. 1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 among others.

The Chinese woman pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Her lawyer, Korede Oyedele, pleaded with the court that he could not file bail application for his client because he only knew about the arraignment that morning.

He said the accused was given administrative bail before by the police and urged the court to sustain the bail or she should be remanded in the police custody pending filing and hearing of bail application.

But, the prosecution counsel, Funke Fawole, objected to the prayer, saying the police cell was already congested. She asked that the accused be remanded at Agodi prison to ensure better care for her.

The presiding judge later ordered that Jun be remanded in Agodi prison pending filing and hearing of her bail application, and then adjourned the case till May 27.