Lebanese Bizman Remanded In Prison Over Fraud

A Lebanese businessman, Mr. Nabil Wehbe Mohammed, has been arraigned before a federal high court in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on a 12-count criminal charge bordering on  fraud and issuance of dud cheques.

He is currently remanded at Ikoyi Prisons pending the time the court will rule on his bail application.

The 53-year old managing director of NBL Rubber and Plastic Processing Nigeria Limited, Lagos, was alleged to have falsely obtained goods worth N159 million from  a company, Ranoma Limited,  sometime in 2011.

He was also alleged to have issued Diamond Bank Plc cheques to the company, and upon the presentation of the cheques they were dishonoured on the ground that there were no sufficient funds in his account.

Part of the charge reads: “that you Nabil Wehbe Mohammed, in 2011, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained from Ranoma Limited, goods worth N159 million being debt to Ranoma Limited. and reassigned to Yasir Gabara and Mustapha Jabil, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of Advances Fee Fraud and other related offences Act. Cap A6, Vol. 1, revised edition laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2008.”

The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Emerho Frank, are contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences, Act Cap. A6, Volume.1; and section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the criminal laws of dishonoured cheque Act, Cap 11, Vol. 5 revised edition laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2008, respectively.

His counsel, Mr. B. O. Obobolo, and prosecution counsel have both filed bail application and  counter affidavit to the application respectively which were argued and written addresses were adopted respectively

However, the presiding judge, Justice Yunusa adjourned the matter till 1 April  to rule on the bail application.