Lagos court sentences firm over N21m fraud case

Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted Rahvet International Limited for the unlawful conversion of N21 million belonging to one Chioma Adeoye.

The conviction followed the company’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended one-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

According to the charge, Rahvet International Limited, sometime in June 2021 within the Ikeja Judicial Division of the High Court, dishonestly converted the sum of N21 million, the property of Chioma Adeoye, to its own use.

The defendant company pleaded guilty when the charge was read in court.

Following the plea, prosecuting counsel, Anita Imo, called an EFCC operative, Leonard Ayakor, to present the facts of the case.

Ayakor told the court that the company had approached the complainant under the pretext of conducting a research project and persuaded her to transfer funds into its bank account.

Investigations later confirmed that the total sum of N21 million was paid into the company’s account.

The witness further disclosed that the entire amount was refunded to the complainant during the EFCC’s investigation.

The prosecution tendered the complainant’s petition and the defendant’s statements, which were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits by the court.

After reviewing the facts and the company’s guilty plea, Justice Ijelu found Rahvet International Limited guilty as charged and entered a conviction accordingly.

The court imposed a fine of N100,000 on the company, payable within 72 hours, and noted that full restitution of N21 million had already been made to the petitioner through the EFCC.