Clara Anthony, a businesswoman, appeared before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Monday, facing charges of defrauding her business partners of N625.8 million under the pretext of supplying rice.
Anthony, along with her company, Flourish Clear Concept, is facing a 17-count charge that includes conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, stealing, fraud, and conversion.
Prosecutor S.A. Ogala informed the court that the alleged offenses took place between June 2022 and December 2023 in the Oregun area of Lagos. He claimed the defendants deceived various individuals into paying large sums for rice supplies that were never delivered.
Among the allegations, the prosecutor stated that Anthony and her company obtained N56 million from Chinemerem Eweremadu by falsely promising to supply rice. In June 2022, the defendants also took N36 million from Ifenyinwa Eweremadu under similar pretenses.
Other charges include obtaining N58.5 million from Mary Nwagodigwe and others between October and December 2023, as well as N20.5 million from Amarachi Orakwe in May 2023. The defendants are also accused of defrauding Ebele Iwuchukwu of N3.2 million between November 2022 and October 2023, and N410 million from Nkechi Andy and others in October 2023.
Additionally, in September 2022, the defendants allegedly took N6.1 million from Ejiro Nwamadi and others. The prosecutor said the total sum of N625.8 million was fraudulently converted by the defendants for their personal use, without delivering any rice to the complainants.
The charges contravene the provisions of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006, and the Criminal Code, 2004.
Anthony pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Ibrahim Kala granted her bail in the amount of N2 million with two sureties in like sum, and ordered that she be remanded in police custody until her bail conditions are met.
The court adjourned the case to January 22 for trial.
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