EFCC arraigns prophetess for defrauding company of N25m, after another N165.5m case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Lagos-based prophetess, Linda Mabi-Praise, for allegedly defrauding a company of N25m in an Automotive Gas Oil deal.

She was arraigned before a Lagos State Special Offences Court on eight counts bordering on stealing, obtaining under false pretences and issuance of blank cheques.

According to the EFCC prosecutor, Frank Ofoma, the defendant who committed the crimes sometime in 2017 in Lagos, received N503.3m from the complainant, Tophara Ventures Nigeria Limited, and later gave out three faulty cheques to the company.

His statement reads:

“On April 24, 2017, the defendants falsely obtained N238.2m from the complainant by claiming that it was for the purpose of diesel trade and supply.

Read also: EFCC arraigns businesswoman for swindling lawyer of N165m

“On April 24, 2017, the defendants dishonestly stole and converted N137.1m belonging to the complainant to their personal use; and sometime in 2017, Mabi-Praise also stole N48m from Tophara Ventures Nigeria Limited.”

Ofoma added that the prophetess and her firm, with the purpose to swindle, had on May 3, 2017, provided three United Bank for Africa Plc cheques to Tophara Ventures of which were rejected upon presentation for payment.

Meanwhile, the prophetess had earlier been arraigned before the court for defrauding a lawyer, Unoma Omo, of N165.5m.

The presiding judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N25m with two sureties in like sum and added that the sureties must be resident in Lagos State which should provide proof of residency and tax payment to the state government.

She ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions and adjourned the case till March 25 for trial.

By Todimu Ogunade…

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