BY INNOCENT ANABA

Fidelis Anosike, his brother Noel and their company, Folio Communications Limited, were, Wednesday, docked before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over alleged advance fee fraud, money laundering and fraudulent conversion of the proceeds realised from sale of assets belonging to Daily Times of Nigeria.

The accused persons, who are facing a five-count charge, are being prosecuted by the Federal Government.

At the hearing in the case, the Anosike brothers entered the dock after the matter was called, but the reading of the charge to them for their plea to be taken was stalled following the preliminary objection by their counsel, challenging the service of the charge on them.

The case was subsequently adjourned till February 14, 2012 for the proper arraignment of the accused persons in court.

The accused persons, according to the charge, were alleged to have conspired to commit felony by obtain N25 million from Education Trust Fund under the false pretence of utilising the money to set up Electronic Library for Daily Times.

According to the charge, the said representation was incorrect while the offence contravened Sections 1 (3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2005.

Fidelis in the third count of the charge, was said to have laundered another £300,000 (about N75 million), which was realised from the sale of Daily Times property at Cold Harbour Lane, London, United Kingdom.

The said £300,000 was paid into the personal account of Fidelis in London, while he later transferred the money to Nigeria and converted same to personal use.

The accused persons were also accused of conspiring to obtain N100 million from Corporate Ideals Properties Limited and Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah under the guise that they have a printing factory at Lugbe, Abuja, when the claim was incorrect.