Court seizes Felix Duke’s passport as EFCC arraigns musician for N21 million fraud
Court seizes Felix Duke’s passport as EFCC arraigns musician for N21 million fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned musician Felix Osagie, popularly known as Felix Duke, over an alleged N21.25 million fraud.
Felix Duke was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja Division, Lagos, on four counts of stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and giving false information.
In a statement on Thursday, the EFCC alleged that the musician stole and converted N21.25 million belonging to a petitioner, Joseph Oguche, for his personal use.
The commission also accused him of misleading its investigators by falsely claiming he had the authority to sell a piece of land located in Ise, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, when he allegedly knew the claim was false.
The offences are punishable under Sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and Section 39 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004, respectively.
Mr Duke, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid Tukur, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
Defence counsel, Sunday Afolabi, however, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on very liberal terms or on self-recognisance.
The prosecution opposed the bail application, alleging that the defendant had jumped the EFCC’s administrative bail since July 2026.
The judge, however, granted the defendant bail of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered the defendant to surrender his passport to the court’s registrar, barring him from travelling outside of the country pending the conclusion of the matter.
The court adjourned the case until December 16 and ordered Felix Duke to remain in custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
