Court remands woman in Kirikiri prison for N43.5m fraud

A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has remanded one Miracle Enondano in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for theft. 

The Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, arraigned Enondano, alongside SGMX Resources Limited, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on an eight-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and theft to the tune of N43.5 million.

One of the counts reads: “Miss Miracle Esse Enondano, SGMX Resources Limited and Mr. Ben Enodano (now at large) on or about 5th January 2021 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, induced Mr. Adedoyin Akeem Balogun to execute a Segregated Trading Contract Agreement in the sum of N15 million to be managed by a broker, Hot Markets Nigeria Limited, as investment, on the understanding that after six months of the investment you will give him 60 per cent of the total investment as return, which pretence you knew was false.”

Another count reads: “Miss Miracle Esse Enondano, SGMX Resources Limited and Mr. Ben Enodano (now at large) on or about 24th November 2018 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, induced Mr. Adedoyin Akeem Balogun to pay the sum of N14,500,000 into Esse Miracle Enodano’s Access Bank account as investment into Bitcoin Mining Server Machines, on the understanding that the Bitcoin Server can generate $1000 per day, as profit of the total investment, which pretence you knew was false.”

She pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Following her plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ahmed Yerima prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case against the defendants.

Defence counsel, Abiodun Adepoju, however, moved the bail application of her client, praying the court to grant bail on liberal terms.

The prosecution opposed the bail in its counter-affidavit, praying the court to instead, grant accelerated hearing.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Taiwo granted Enondano bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a close relation.

She is to remain at the Kirikiri Correctional Center pending the perfection of her bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned till September 13, 2022 for trial.