Chinese remanded for alleged N301m fraud

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday remanded a Chinese national, Zhengjia Jin, in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos State for allegedly defrauding his employer.

Justice Rahman Oshodi remanded Jin after he took his plea.

Jin was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on four counts bordering on the retention of stolen property, bribery, and stealing.

The EFCC said Jin committed the alleged offences between March 5 and August 9, 2024, in Lagos.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Ahmad Usman, told the court that the defendant dishonestly retained the aggregate sum of N301m in his bank account domiciled in Access Bank, property of Golden Diamond Industrial Manufacturing Company Limited.

Usman said the defendant, whilst in the engagement of Golden Diamond Industrial Manufacturing Company Limited, accepted directly the sum of N301m into his Access Bank account and acted contrary to his company’s employee condition of service.

He said Jin obtained the said money as kickbacks from vendors, thereby conferring undue advantage for himself, and acted contrary to his company’s employee condition of service.

The prosecutor also said the defendant dishonestly converted the sum of N301m, property of Golden Diamond Industrial Manufacturing Company Limited, to his use.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 328, 83 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 and Section 280 (2) and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The defendant’s counsel, A.C. Ezenduka, informed the court that he had filed a bail application for his client.

But Usman told the court they hadn’t been served.

Justice Oshodi, in his ruling, remanded the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.

“I remand the defendant, Jin, at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending his trial date,” Oshodi said.

The judge fixed the hearing of the bail application till November 22, 2024.

Oshodi further adjourned the case to January 10, 2025, for the commencement of trial.