COURT DISMISSES NO-CASE SUBMISSION IN N75M FRAUD TRIAL, ORDERS DEFENDANTS TO OPEN DEFENCE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Chinedu Justin and his firm, GIL Energy Services Limited, holding that the prosecution established a prima facie case against them.
The defendants are standing trial on charges instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, over alleged fraud-related offences.
In her ruling, Justice Dada held that the EFCC presented sufficient evidence linking the defendants to the alleged crimes, thereby warranting them to enter their defence.
Chinedu Justin and GIL Energy Services Limited are being prosecuted on a six-count amended charge dated December 11, 2023, bordering on stealing, contrary to Section 287(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and issuance of dishonoured cheques, contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts, leading to the commencement of trial, with the first defendant representing the company.
To prove its case, the prosecution, led by counsel Owede Spiff, called four witnesses and tendered several documents, including the extra-judicial statement of the first defendant. The prosecution closed its case on October 13, 2025.
The defence subsequently filed a no-case submission dated November 3, 2025, arguing that the matter was purely a civil dispute arising from a loan transaction and that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
However, Justice Dada dismissed the submission, ruling that the evidence before the court raised substantive issues requiring explanation by the defendants.
The court adjourned the matter to March 26, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.
One of the charges alleges that the defendants, on or about December 2, 2021, converted ₦65 million belonging to Cool Financial Services Limited to their personal use. Another count alleges the conversion of an additional ₦10 million belonging to the same company on or about May 5, 2022.
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