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.
