An Akure Magistrate Court in Ondo State has ordered the remand of a businesswoman, Ogunbote Omolere, popularly known as Lizzy CEO, over alleged fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.

The defendant was accused of collecting millions of naira from a victim under the guise of procuring a Canadian visa.

According to the charge filed by the police prosecutor, Inspector Josephine Anjana, Omolere and others still at large allegedly conspired to obtain money by false pretence and stealing, offences said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State.

The prosecutor told the court that the alleged offences were committed between February and August 2025 around the NEPA area of Akure.

The charge read in part: “That you, Ogunduboye Omolere ‘f’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place within the aforementioned Magistrate District, did use different account numbers to obtain a total sum of N6,901,000 from one Ologun Emmanuel Leke under the pretence of helping to procure a Canadian visa, which you did not, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 418 and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 39 Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2026.”

The prosecution further alleged that the suspect used different bank accounts belonging to other individuals to divert the N6.9 million allegedly obtained from the complainant for personal use, contrary to Section 388 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, while her counsel urged the court to grant her bail pending the determination of the case.

Ruling on the application, the Magistrate, Mrs Temitope Agnes Adurota, granted the defendant bail with stringent conditions, including the submission of her international passport.

The court also ordered that one of the guarantors must be a Level 14 officer or above and must provide a letter of last promotion.

The guarantors were further directed to present certificates of occupancy for properties within Akure metropolis, alongside tax clearance certificates covering at least three years.

The Magistrate subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case until June 19 for continuation of the trial. (Tribune News)

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