Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, on Monday, ordered one of Macmillan’s book publishers, Fasasi Bola, to be remanded in a custodial centre over alleged fraud.

The defendant, alongside Macmillan Nigerian Publishers Limited, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended six counts bordering on obtaining goods by false pretences.

The charge read, “Macmillan Nigerian publishers, Professor Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan, who is now at large, and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to obtain goods by false pretences, property of BHS Printing SDN BHD of Selangor Malaysia.

“That Macmillan Nigerian Publishers, Professor Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, obtained books for sale worth $156,711.87 by false pretences from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia, under the pretences that you would sell the books and remit the money from the sales within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading, which pretence you knew or ought to know is false.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The EFCC prosecution counsel, Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina, however, prayed the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded.

Justice Dada adjourned the matter till July 8, 2022, for further hearing.