Richman Pere and his firm, Rich Oil Delta West Africa Limited, were charged with forgery and obtaining by false pretence by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 6, 2022.
On a four-count charge, Pere was arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.
Pere, as managing director of Rich Oil Delta West Africa Limited, is accused of defrauding Alhaji Yisa Bello of Success Ventures International Limited out of N72,000,000 while purporting to supply him with crude oil.
One of the counts read: “that you, Richman Pere being the managing director of Rich Oil West Africa Limited on or about the 23rd day of July, 2019 at Effurun Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, induced Alhaji Yisa Bello of Success Ventures International Limited to deposit the aggregate sum of N72,000,000 (Seventy Two Million Naira only) into account number: 1015477975 domicile at United Bank for Africa Plc operated by you with the false pretence that you have 1,000,000 barrel of Crude oil to supply to him which pretence you knew is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same act.”
When the charge was read to him, the defendant pled not guilty.
In light of his plea, prosecution counsel, Immaculate Elody, requested that the court set a trial date and remand the defendant.
Justice Abang detained the defendant to the Correctional Facility and adjourned the case until June 29, 2022.