Admin l Thursday, June 20, 2019
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – An Italian, Floriana De Stefani was on Wednesday re-arraigned before a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for property fraud.
Stefani was rearraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada on a five count charge of forgery and stealing of property belonging to Waterside Properties Limited.
Stefani was said to have sometime in 2015 with dishonest intention, forged document titled, “Deed Of Assignment Dated 1983 prepared by Rosamond O. Bakare” purported to have been entered between Mr. E.A. Abayomi Lowo on behalf of Waterside Properties Limited, on the first part and the late Luca Signorelli and Mrs. Floriana De Stefani, on the second part.”
She pleaded not guilty to the charges while the second defendant initially charged with her, Stella Ndubusi Ogboru was discharged following the request of the prosecution counsel, Mr Ahmed Yerima.
The offence contravenes s ection 278 (2) (a) and section 363(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Following her plea, Yerima therefore informed the court of the presence of the prosecution witness.
At the last adjourned date when Stefani was initially arraigned, Justice Dada granted the defendants bail in the sum of N250,000 with one surety each in like sum. Surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must show evidence of tax payment in the last three years, which must be verified by the court.
She also ordered them to submit their international passports to the EFCC, failure of which they should be remanded in prison. The defendants were also ordered to be released to their counsel pending the determination of the case.
However, the witness, Bob John Eze in his testimony told court that he is a realtor adding he knew defendant, Stefani through his late client and boss, Fred Egbe. He said Egbe introduced Stefani to him as his tenant in two of his properties.
According to Eze, ” I’ve been consulting for since 1990. Sometimes in 2005/2006 Egbe told me to approach Stefani for renewal of of her rents. She made the payment of one at Worrey road but she did not renew the rent of the property at 135 Awolowo Road.
“In 2007, there was serious confrontation between her and Mr Egbe. He told me to issue her quit notice on the two properties. She (defendant) called for a meeting, it was therefore resolved that she will vacate from the one she was unable to renew. After this, she travelled and Mr Egbe was very angry that she didn’t fulfil the agreement. ” Justice Dada subsequently adjourned further hearing in the matter.
