A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till 27 October, 2023 when the trial of a Nigerian business man, Michael Ukiye Diongoli, and his two companies, UK-DION GROUP and UK-DION INVESTMENT, alleged to have swindled unsuspecting members of the public to the tune of N3.7billion will commence.
Sometime in June this year Michael Ukiye Diongoli and his two companies, UK- Dion Group and UK-Dion Investment Limited, were arraigned before the court on 61 count charge of defrauding uncountable numbers of Nigerians to the tune of N3.7billion.
In a 61 count amended charge number FHC/L/338/2022,filed before the court by the Police prosecuting counsel from Legal Section of Force Criminal investigation Department Annex Alagbon Close-Ikoyi Lagos state, Nigeria, Ezema Susan, it was allegedly stated that Michael Ukiye Diongoli and his two companies and others at large, between 2021 and 2022 with intent to defraud conspired among themselves to obtain monies from Nigerian under the pretext that they are registered financial institution and are into wealth Management wherein customers were invited to pay money into their accounts on a fixed deposit system for a period of six months to one year and the customer will get the money invested with interest.
This statement they knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related to offences Act,2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Some notable Nigerians listed in the charge alleged to have been defrauded by the Defendants are:
- Professor Onyekachi Green Nwankwo – N69,856,295.00
- Dr. Basil Onugu – N11 milion
- Elizabeth Umenwa Nwankwo – N25million
- Chinyere Ogujeiofor – N24,036,411.00
- Nnenna Ikubogh – N30million
- FSL Securities Limited – N200million
- Elizabeth & Anthony Ventures – N100,144,652
- Catholic Charismatic Renewal – N11,500,000
- MTN Employers Cooperative – N50Million
- Colonel T. Chukwu (Rtd) – N31Million
- Obieme Adaku Kate – N205Milion
- Professor Iloeje Casmir – N109Million
- Dr. Charles Ejekute-Obi – N345 Million
- Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme – 50 Million
- Olufemi Akinyemi – N85 Million
- Tedaki Events – N232 Million.
It was also alleged that the Defendants and others at large with intent to defraud fraudulently issued cheques for various sums of money, for the settling of their indebtedness and when the cheques were presented for payment they were returned unpaid, with inscription DAR. On further enquiry, it was revealed that they don’t have the said sum standing to their credit in the said accounts and secondly the said cheques had been phased out by the bank, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonored Cheques (offence) Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable. Under section 1(b)(1) of the same Law.
The defendants are accused of pretending to be registered financial institution into wealth management, invited customers to pay money into their accounts and fix it for a period ranging from six months to one year with interest, a statement the defendant knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related to Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendants are currently on bail.