N4.5m ‘Alleged Fraud’: Lawyer ‘Jumps Bail’, Changes Name, Remanded In Prison

An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Monday remanded a lawyer,
Chidi Uzoije Amadi, who allegedly jumped bail and changed his
identity, after his arraignment in 2016 for obtaining N4.5 million
by false pretense.

Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay made the order following Amadi’s
re-arrest and re-arraignment on a two-count charge of stealing and
obtaining money by false pretense.

The fresh charge, marked LD/5648c/2017, was preferred against
him by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

It alleged that Amadi obtained the sum from a businessman,
Augustine Chigbo Okoro in 2013, on the pretext that he could secure
him 20 plots of land at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, for
N200,000 per plot.

He allegedly failed to do so, did not return the money and fled
after being granted bail.

Prosecution counsel, Mrs K.O. Sarumi, said the alleged offences
contravened sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos
State, 2011.

Amadi pleaded not guilty.

The defendant’s wife, Ngozi Chidi-Obinwanne of Gamaliels’
Advocacy, applied for a date to hear his bail application.

But Sarumi opposed her. She notified the judge that the
defendant was a flight risk and prayed the court to remand him for
trial.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant absconded soon after
he was granted bail in the same matter by an Igbosere Magistrates’
Court in 2016.

She told Justice Nicol-Clay that Amadi moved from Amuwo-Odofin
and also relocated his law firm, Chidi Uzoije Amadi & Co. to an
unknown location.

The court heard that the state filed a case against him at the
high court but Amadi failed to appear, following which a Bench
Warrant was issued last April, and the police began a man-hunt for
him.

According to the prosecutor, Amadi was neither seen nor heard
from until November 13, when, following a tip-off, he was
re-arrested at an Epe High Court.

The court heard that Amadi allegedly moved to Ajah area of Lagos
and now practices law under a new name: Chidi Uzoije Obinwanne.

The prosecutor said investigation was ongoing to determine the
defendant’s current identity, residence and place of work.

Justice Nicol-Clay remanded Amadi in Kirikiri Maximum Security
Prison, Ikoyi and adjourned till November 28 to hear his bail
application.

On February 5, 2016, the Police Federal Criminal Intelligence
Investigation Department (FCIID) Alagbon, Lagos, arraigned Amadi at
an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge bordering on
fraud.

Prosecution counsel, Mr Ezekiel Upah, a Deputy Superintendent of
Police (DSP), said sometime in 2013, Amadi promised a businessman,
Augustine Chigbo Okoro, that he could secure him 20 plots of land
at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, for N200,000 per plot.

Upah told the court in charge No. I/0716, that Amadi, “with
intent to defraud, obtained N4.5m from Okoro by falsely
representing yourself to him that you were capable of providing 20
plots of land for him at the cost of the said amount of N4.5m only
in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.”

He said Amadi failed to provide the land but did not return
Okoro’s money.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 312(3) of
the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Amadi pleaded not guilty.

Senior Magistrate H. O. Amos granted the defendant bail in the
sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum.

He remanded the defendant in prison custody pending the
fulfilment of the bail terms and adjourned till March 3, 2015 for
mention.

At that time Amadi, described himself on his Facebook page as a
graduate of the Faculty of Law, Abia State University, Uturu,
resident at Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

But the defendant now goes by the name Chidi Uzoije Obinwanne on
his Facebook page.

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