Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted Rahvet International Limited for unlawfully converting the sum of N21 million belonging to one Chioma Adeoye.
The conviction followed the arraignment of the company by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended one count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
According to the charge, Rahvet International Limited, sometime in June 2021 within the Ikeja Judicial Division of the High Court, dishonestly converted the sum of N21 million, being the property of Chioma Adeoye, to its own use.
The defendant company pleaded guilty when the charge was read before the court.
Following the guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Anita Imo, called an EFCC operative, Leonard Ayakor, who gave a summary of the facts of the case.
Ayakor told the court that the company had approached the complainant on the guise of carrying out a research project and induced her to transfer money into its bank account.
He stated that investigations subsequently established that a total sum of N21 million was paid into the company’s account.
The witness further informed the court that the entire amount was refunded to the complainant during the course of the EFCC’s investigation.
The prosecution tendered the petition written by the complainant as well as the statements obtained from the defendant, all of which were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits by the court.
After considering the facts presented and the guilty plea entered by the company, Justice Ijelu found Rahvet International Limited guilty as charged and accordingly entered a conviction.
The court sentenced the company to a fine of N100,000, payable within 72 hours, noting that full restitution of the N21 million had already been made to the petitioner through the EFCC.
