Admin l Tuesday, July 26, 2022
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today rearraigned Miracle Ese Enodano, and her company, SGMX Resources Limited and Ben Enodano, still at large for N43.5 million fraud.
She was arraigned on eight count charge bothering on stealing, issuance of dude cheques and obtaining money by false pretense. Miracle Ese Enodano, Ben Enodano and their company SGMX Resources allegedly induced clients to warehouse millions of Naira in custody of a broker, Hot Market Nigeria Limited, as investment on the understanding that that after six months of investment clients will receive 60% as return on investment.
She entered a no guilty plea to the eight count charges. Subsequently, the Prosecuting Counsel, Ahmed Yerima urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. But the defence counsel, Mrs. Abiodun Adepoju, objected, asking the judge to discountenance the request. She argued that her client did not at anytime jump administrative bail, and has been in EFCC custody.
Counsel to the defendant, Mrs. Adepoju, in her 12 paragraph affidavit on bail application dated July 15, prayed the court to grant her client bail on liberal terms. Adepoju argued that the defendant had credible family members who were ready to stand as sureties for her.
In a counter affidavit dated July 22, the EFCC counsel objected to the defendant’s bail application. He argued that the defendant was being charged with serious crime but that he will leave it at the discretion of the court.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo granted the defendant N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum. Taiwo ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, must be a level 16 officer of Lagos State Government and one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant, be it a husband or brother.
She also added that the residential addresses of the sureties must be verified by the court. Justice Taiwo however ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the perfection of her bail conditions. The case was adjourned till September 13 for trial.
Part of the charge against the defendant reads: That you “Miracle Esse Enodano, 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 one Mr. Adedoyin Akeem Balogun to execute a Segregated Trading Contract Agreement in the sum of N15,000,000 (Fifteen million Naira) to be managed by a broker, Hot Market Nigeria Limited, as investment on the understanding that that after six months of investment you will give him 60% of the total investment as return, which pretense you knew was false.
The counsel to EFCC also told the court that the defendant committed the offence with SGMX Resources Ltd and Ben Enodano, who is now at large between January and March 2021 in Lagos.
Yerima also accused the defendant of inducing the complainant on November 24, 2018, to pay the sum of N14.5million into her Access Bank Account, as an investment into Bitcoin mining sever machines on the understanding that Bitcoin sever can generate $1000 per day a profit of the total investment which she knew was false.
Yerima also alleged that on November 25, 2018, with intent to defraud, Enodano, induced one Mr. and Mrs. Adebola Olagunju to pay the sum of N3million into her Access Bank account as Account Management Fee and Assurances for the safety of Segregated Trading Contract Agreement, under false pretence.
According to the prosecutor the offences contravened Sections 1 (1) (a) and 1(3) of the advanced fee fraud and other related offences Act No 14 of 2006, 1(1) of Dishonoured Cheques 2004 and Sections 278 (1) (2) and 285(1) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.
