The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a businesswoman, Portia Emilia, before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, for an alleged N110 million fraud.

Emilia was re-arraigned before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe on Thursday.

The businesswoman was re-arraigned alongside her company, Savanah Crest Investment Limited, on an amended five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, obtaining money and property by false pretence, Stealing, and retaining stolen property.

One of the counts read: “Portia Anthony Emilia and Savanah Crest Investment Limited, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honouralble Court, with intent to defraud, stole and dishonestly converted to your own the sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty million Naira only).”

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Another count read: “Portia Anthony Emilia and Savanah Crest Investment Limited, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty million Naira) from one Wendy Daniel.”

Emilia, who also took the plea of the company, pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.

The prosecution counsel, F. Ofoma, informed the court that the prosecution would close its case, having called two witnesses, through whom several documentary evidence were tendered.

“The prosecution hereby applies to close its case,” he said.

The defence counsel, J.J. Amodu, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him prepare for his case.

“We also pray this Honourable Court to, upon the re-arraignment of the defendant, allow her to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted by the court,” Amodu said.

The presiding judge, Justice Abike-Fadipe, however, granted the prayer of the defence counsel and adjourned the case till June 22, 2023, for defence.

The Star