Bank, 16 persons charged over alleged N2.6bn fraud

By -
(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday adjourned till February  9, 2016 for the arraignment of 15 accused persons and two companies, facing a N2.6 billion fraud charge.
The accused are Chief C.S. Sankey, Peter Harris, Adekunle Oladosun, Okechi Egwu, Lulu Ndubuka, Oyowole Ariyo, Kabiru Bello, J.E. Eriagbon, Samson Ebie, Steve Obodomechine and Mark Anaele. Others are Ariyo Odunala, Peter Oriade, Olusola Fagbure and Obianwa Chuba, while the two companies to be charged are Nigeria International Bank Ltd. and Mikky Dons Nig. Ltd.
They are facing a 20-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, intent to defraud, falsification of document, fraudulent alteration and diversion of over N2.6 billion belonging to MicMerah International Agency Ltd.
The arraignment of the accused was stalled last Monday, due to the absence of 16 accused persons. When the case was called, only the first accused was present in court. Mr Gordy Uche, SAN, announced appearance for the prosecution, while Mr Niyi Adegbomire, SAN, announced appearance for the accused.
Uche informed the court that he had not been able to serve the charge on the other accused, saying that non- service of the charge was responsible for their absence in court.
He prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable prosecution serve the accused with the charge. Following the submission, Justice Ibrahim Buba adjourned the suit to February 9.
Buba said that the second to 17th accused should be served with the charge before the next adjourned date.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to induce MicMerah International Agency Ltd, to deliver the said sum to them.
They were said have resolved to use the money for offsetting a fraudulent import finance facility scheme.
They were also alleged to have falsified documents to fraudulently secure the release of four Volvo luxury buses and two 40 feet containers from the Nigeria Custom Service.
The accused were also charged with obtaining property under false pretence as well as corruptly enriching themselves.
The offence is said to have contravened Sections 1(1) (a),1(3), and 8 (a), of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related offence Act, 2004.
The offence also contravenes the provisions of Sections 161 and 162 of the Custom and Excise Management Act, Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.
It also contravenes Sections 2, 2(1) and 10 (1) of the Recovery of Public Property Act, 2004.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UBTH @50: Obaseki hails institution’s role in strengthening Edo healthcare

By -
Image
(Nigeria) Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has commended the staff and management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and hard work in providing high-quality healthcare services to the people of Edo State and Nigeria in the past fifty years. Obaseki, at a dinner organized in honour of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Nigeria, at the Government House, Benin City, reassured the government’s continuous partnership and collaboration with the federal government-owned health institution to strengthen the health system and ensure quality health delivery to Edo people. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, reeled out the gains of the government’s reforms in the health sector, commending the medical centre for bolstering the government’s efforts at transforming Edo State into a health hub. He said, "We came into a wilderness where you have to cut a part for yourself and fix it. We held
Read more

Presidential poll: CNPP backs calls for live broadcast of tribunal’s proceedings

By -
Image
*Presidential election petition tribunal sittings in Abuja (Nigeria) Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has thrown its weight behind calls for live broadcast of the proceedings of the presidential election petition court sittings in Abuja. In a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country noted that not only will the live broadcast douse tension associated with the ongoing proceedings and high expectations by the electorates, it will also promote transparency in the court process in public interest. The CNPP also reasoned that “there is no way the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and it's candidate in the presidential election, Bola Tinubu, will oppose a live broadcast of the tribunal’s sittings up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria where the matter will eventually terminate if any of the parties procee
Read more