A pregnant woman, Regina Odumosi, 31, has been remanded in prison custody by an FCT Chief Magistrate’s Court over her alleged involvement in a N82 million fraud.?
Odumosi, of no fixed address, is facing a four-count charge of joint act, criminal breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation of N82 million.
Police prosecutor, Chijioke Okeazie told the court that one Osita Ibeheme of Veneegas Nigeria Ltd. Jabi, Abuja, petitioned the Inspector General of Police on September 23, 2011, urging him to investigate the accused.
Okeazie said the investigation revealed that the accused, along with one Enemike Ozor, a cashier and an accountant of Veneegas Nigeria Ltd, now at large, misappropriated the said money.
He said Ozor confessed in a statement to the police that he shared the money equally with Odumosi, and added that the offence contravened Sections 312, 322, 286 and 309 of the Penal Code.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty, and the police prosecutor asked for an adjournment to enable him present his witness.
Counsel to the accused, G.M. Chukwuka, applied for bail for his client, citing sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
He urged the court to grant his client bail, pending her trial, and promised that she would not jump bail.
Chukwuka also urged the court to grant the accused bail on compassionate grounds as she was confirmed to have complications with her seven-month-old pregnancy.
The prosecutor urged the court not to grant the application, saying that investigation was still in progress.
He told the court that the accused jumped bail in February when she was granted bail.
Chukwuka said “this same woman, after being granted bail in February, relocated and changed her phone numbers and remained in hiding until she was caught yesterday (April 23).’’
Chief Magistrate Okeagu Azubike ordered that she should be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case till May 22 for further hearing.