Court has ordered the forfeiture of accounts linked to alleged ₦8.59bn Plaude Technologies fraud.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos has secured a Federal High Court order for the forfeiture of bank accounts and assets linked to an alleged ₦8.59 billion fraud involving Plaude Technologies Limited and other parties.
The PSFU disclosed the development in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Ovie Kenneth Ewhubare.
According to the statement, the order affects Plaude Technologies Limited, Omberra Commodities Limited, Olatomiwa Adebayo Idowu, Osikoya Oladayo Joshua and Ibukunoluwa Boluwatife Adebayo, as well as bank accounts allegedly connected to the disputed transactions.
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The Police alleged that the matter involved conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and money laundering totalling ₦8,585,852,300.
The investigation reportedly followed a petition submitted by a financial institution, which accused the suspects of conspiring to obtain the money through alleged false representations and fraudulent arrangements.
Upon receiving the petition, detectives reportedly traced financial transactions across several financial institutions and engaged Nigeria’s financial regulatory authorities as part of the investigation.
The PSFU claimed that its investigation found that Plaude Technologies lacked the operational and financial capacity to fulfil the obligations it allegedly presented to investors and business partners.
Investigators also alleged that Osaretin Jonathan, identified as a director of Plaude Technologies, was involved in laundering funds through multiple bank accounts.
The allegations have not been proven in court, while the statement did not include responses from the named individuals and companies.
The PSFU said it subsequently approached the Federal High Court and obtained the forfeiture order against the affected accounts and assets pending the conclusion of its investigation.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Unit, CP Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, commended the detectives involved for what he described as their professionalism, diligence and resilience.
Okpoziakpo reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to investigating sophisticated financial crimes and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
