An inmate at the Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos, Oladipo Adedokun, was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Special Offences Court EFCC for allegedly defrauding the Nigerian Navy of N69.6 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) judiciary correspondent reports that Adedokun, who is doing time for fraud-related offences was slammed with fresh 18-count fraud charge by the anti-graft agency.

A hotel owned by Adedokun, Lorient Harbour Hotel Ltd., was joined as second defendant in the matter.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty to offences of obtaining money under false pretences, issuance of dud cheques, forgery and use of false document.

The EFCC Prosecutor, Mr E. E. Iheanacho, said that Adedokun committed the offences in 2012.

“On Sept. 27, 2012, the defendant and Lorient Harbour Hotel Ltd., fraudulently obtained N69. 6 million from the Nigerian Navy under the pretence that he had 250,000 dollars and 110,000 pounds sterling to sell to the Nigerian Navy.

“On Nov. 31, 2012, Adedokun issued an Enterprise Bank cheque with number 16922339 in the sum of N8.2 million in the name of Ikechukwu Onuorah as purported settlement of the money paid to him by the Nigerian Navy.

“The cheque was, however, returned within three months on the ground that there was insufficient funds in the account of Lorient Harbour Hotel Ltd in Enterprise Bank,” he said.

The prosecution also alleged that on Nov. 21, 2012, Adedokun issued an Enterprise Bank cheque with number 16922341 for N2. 5 million and on Nov. 31, 2012, he issued another Enterprise Bank cheque with number 16922340 for N10 million.

Both cheques were in the name of Onuorah and were supposed to be settlement for the money paid to Adedokun by the Nigerian Navy but the cheques were returned, due to insufficient funds in the Enterprise Bank account of Lorient Harbour Hotel Ltd.

Iheanacho further alleged that Adedokun forged some United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank drafts.

“On Oct. 5, 2012 the defendant forged various UBA bank drafts.

“Adedokun forged a UBA bank draft with number 26367653 for the sum of N8.2 million.

“He also forged various UBA bank drafts with numbers 26367655, 26367654, 26367659, 26367656 and 26367657 for the sum of N9 million each.

“Adedokun and Lorient Harbour Hotel used the false documents by forwarding them to Onuora as genuine,” he said.

According to the EFCC, the offences violated Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 1(1)(a) of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Act, 2004 and Section 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Following Adedokun’s plea, the EFCC prosecutor asked the court for a date to commence his trial.

“In view of the not guilty plea, may we apply for the commencement of the trial of the case.

“The defendant is coming from the Kirikiri Prisons because he has been convicted in another matter.

“We have five witnesses who are to testify in this case,” Iheanacho said.

Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until April 10 and April 11 for commencement of trial.

After the judge had adjourned the case, Adedokun was led out of the courtroom by a prison official back to Kirikiri Prisons.