British lawyer charged with £484,000 fraud, gets N100m bail

The Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCIID),
Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday arraigned an English lawyer, Joyce
Amanambu, at a Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged £484,000
fraud.

Amanambu, 53, was accused of swindling a Briton of Nigerian
ancestry, Chukwudi Ajudua, of the sum in London, within a period of
10 years.

She is facing a two-count charge, of obtaining under false
pretence and fraud.

According to the police, Amanambu has been disbarred in
England.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Henry Obiazi, a Deputy Superintendent,
told Justice Ibrahim Buba that the defendant committed the offence
between August 2005 and March 2016, at 25, Harcourt Street,
London.

Obiazi alleged that Amanambu, by false pretence and with intent
to defraud, obtained the sum from Ajidua in two tranches of
£348,500 and £99,500.

The offences, the prosecutor added, contravened Sections 1(1)(a)
and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other related offences Act,
2006.
Amanambu pleaded not guilty.

Her counsel, Chima Umezurike, prayed the court to grant her bail
in “liberal terms.”

In a bench ruling, Justice Buba admitted Amanambu to bail in the
sum of N100 million, with one surety in the like sum.

The surety must deposit his international passport and landed
property documents in the court’s custody.

Justice Buba also warned the defendant that she would be
remanded in prison custody unless her bail was perfected yesterday
or today.

He adjourned further proceedings till December 3.

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