N625.8m Rice Scam: Lagos Businesswoman Faces 17-Count Charge

Lagos Woman Faces Trial for Alleged N600m Rice Fraud

“The defendants did not supply rice to any of the complainants but dishonestly converted the total sum...”

A Lagos businesswoman, Clara Anthony, and her company, Flourish Clear Concept, have been arraigned in court for allegedly defrauding victims of N625.8 million in a rice scam.

Clara Anthony, a businesswoman, has been arraigned before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for allegedly obtaining N625.8 million under false pretenses. She's accused of deceiving her business partners by promising to supply rice.

Anthony and her company, Flourish Clear Concept, face a 17-count charge that includes conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences, stealing, fraud, and conversion. According to the prosecutor, S. A. Ogala, the defendants committed these offences between June 2022 and December 2023 in the Oregun area of Lagos.

The prosecutor alleged that Anthony and her company received N56 million from Chinemerem Eweremadu, pretending that the money was for rice supply. This case is a serious allegation of business fraud, and the court will need to carefully consider the evidence presented.

Prosecutor S. A. Ogala alleged that in June 2022, Clara Anthony and her company, Flourish Clear Concept, fraudulently obtained N36 million from Ifenyinwa Eweremadu. They allegedly deceived her by claiming they would sell rice to her.

Ogala further alleged that between October and December 2023, the defendants obtained an additional N58.5 million from Mary Nwagodigwe and other individuals. Again, they allegedly used the false pretense of supplying rice to secure these funds.

In another instance, Ogala claimed that in May 2023, the defendants fraudulently obtained N20.5 million from Amarachi Orakwe. As in previous cases, they allegedly deceived her by promising to supply rice.

Ogala also alleged that between November 2022 and October 2023, the defendants obtained N3.2 million from Ebele Iwuchukwu through fraudulent means.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendants obtained N410 million from Nkechi Andy and others in October 2023, under the false pretense of supplying rice. This is a significant accusation, highlighting the defendants' alleged fraudulent activities.

Furthermore, the prosecutor stated that in September 2022, the defendants defrauded Ejiro Nwamadi and others of N6.1 million. This incident is part of a larger pattern of alleged fraudulent behavior by the defendants, which includes obtaining large sums of money under false pretenses.

“In July 2022, the defendants fraudulently obtained the sum of N54 million from one Immaculate Nwosu.

“The defendants did not supply rice to any of the complainants but dishonestly converted the total sum of N625.8 million to their own use,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the alleged offenses committed by Clara Anthony and her company, Flourish Clear Concept, are in violation of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2006 (Section 1(1)) and the Criminal Code, 2004 (Section 390).

During the arraignment, Anthony pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge brought against her.

Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court granted Anthony a N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum. However, he ordered that she be remanded in police custody until she perfects her bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned until January 22 for trial, pending the fulfillment of Anthony's bail conditions.