Internet Celebrity Arraigned Over Alleged N110M Fraud

A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the remand of social media celebrity, Portia Anthony Emilia and her company, Savanah Crest Investment Limited in a Nigerian correctional facility over alleged One Hundred and Ten Million Naira (N110,000,000.00) fraud.

Justice Abike Fadipe ordered her remand following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on six count charges bordering on felony, to wit stealing.

The EFCC alleged that the defendant with intent to defraud fraudulently obtained the sum of N110 million from one Rachael Akintola and some other people and dishonestly converted the same to her personal use.

Her offence, according to the EFCC, is contrary to Section 1(1)of the Advance Fee Fraud Offences Act 2006 and stealing contrary to Section 280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011 and retaining stolen property contrary to Section 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all six counts charges.

Following her plea of not guilty, the prosecution, counsel, Innocent Akhanolu, asked for a date for trial and prayed for a court order to remand the defendant

In his response, the defendant’s counsel, Mr Shina Balogun informed the court that he has a bail application and the same has been served on the prosecutor.

His position was confirmed by the prosecution counsel before he prayed the court to allow him to move the bail application.

In moving the bail application, Balogun told the court that his client is not a flight risk as her passport is with the Commission and she is on the path to settlement.

Akanwo, who didn’t oppose the bail application, urged the court to impose stringent conditions that would ensure she didn’t jump bail.

However, Justice Fadipe, in a ruling, said that the court is convinced that the defendant is not a flight risk, having not jumped administrative bail at the Commission.

The judge, therefore, granted her bail in the sum of N10 million with a surety who must be a relative and landed property.

The second defendant was also ordered to enter into a bond of N10 million.

She subsequently adjourned the trial to 23 September 2022 as she ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility pending the perfection of her bail conditions.