An Indian national, Lokesh Parwani, who allegedly attempted suicide after he was arrested for an alleged N116 million fraud, on Thursday appeared at an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (Force CIID), Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos arraigned Parwani, the Personnel Manager of an Indian-owned firm in Lagos, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and attempted suicide.
Police counsel Morufu Animashaun alleged that Parwani and his accomplices, who are on the run, conspired and defrauded his employer of the said sum on July 19, 2019 at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Animashaun said the defendant’s employer reported the fraud to the police which, after investigation, confronted Parwani with the allegations on July 26.
The defendant who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was arrested by the police but he allegedly attempted to take his life by quickly eating ‘Super Kill Action Ready Bait Cake’, a rat poison.
However, Animashaun, asked the court to remand Parwani in prison custody pending trial.
But the defendant’s lawyers, Gani Oyerevuegbe and Mustapha Danisi, opposed him stating that Parwani had no criminal record and applied for his bail “on the most liberal terms.”
In a bench ruling, Chief Magistrate K. K. Awoyinka granted the defendant N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum, one of whom must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 10 in the Lagos Civil Service.
Awoyinka remanded Parwani in prison custody pending fulfilment of the bail terms and adjourned till September 2, for trial.
