Alleged N49m Fraud: Court Places No Debit Order On Firms’ Accounts
Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, ordered the temporary freezing of the accounts of a consulting firm, Beryl Consulting Ltd and three others in three commercial banks over alleged N49 million fraud.
The no debit order is to remain in force against Beryl Consulting Ltd, Talib Global Resources Limited, Maiestas Services and Brain Point Multi Projects Ltd pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation into the accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Rabiu-Shagari gave the order after entertaining an ex-parte application which was filed by the EFCC pursuant to Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act No 1 of 2004.
While arguing the application on Thursday, counsel to the anti-graft agency, George Chia-Yakua, informed the court that the purpose of the application is to prevent the four firms from tampering with the money pending conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution of the offences against them.
Chia-Yakua urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.
After listening to the lawyer’s submissions, Justice Shagari ordered the freezing of the accounts of the four firms in Diamond Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and First City Monument Bank pending conclusion of investigations into the alleged fraud by the firms.
In an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by one Callistus Egwuonwu, EFCC said on July 24, 2017, it received a petition from one A. T. Gaya & Co. written on behalf of Mr. Anthony Onuigbo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Equitoni International Limited, alleging offences of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence against the four firms.
The deponent averred that the petitioner had wanted to import handsets worth $100, 000 from Techno Mobile Company Shangai, China, and needed foreign dollars.
One Godwin Maledo, the Branch Manager of Diamond Bank, Ilupeju, was said to have assured the petitioner that he had a customer who had the foreign dollars.
“The said Godwin Maledo introduced Beryl Consulting Ltd (1st defendant), to the petitioner, and on January 17, 2017, the petitioner transferred the sum of N34, 200, 000 and N14, 800, 000 respectively to the account of the 1st defendant on the instruction of the said Godwin Melado at Diamond Bank with Account No. 0022891331.
“Upon the receipt of the total sum of N49 million, the 1st defendant transferred N47.5 million to the account of Talib Global Resources Limited (2nd defendant) at GTB with Account No. 0170522453.
“Aminu Abdulmutalebi, being one of the signatories to the account of the 2nd defendant confirmed that he received N47.5 million from the 1st defendant to procure $100, 000”, the deponent averred.
The 2nd defendant was also said to have, on January 17, 2017, transferred N45 million to the account of Maiestas Services (3rd defendant) at FCMB with Account No. 2370407022.
The deponent added that on January 20, 2017, the 3rd defendant also transferred N10 million to the account of Brain Point Multi Projects Ltd (4th defendant) at FCMB with Account No. 3572525015.
A fake telex message was also said to have been sent to the petitioner by the defendants while all efforts made by him to retrieve the money has proved abortive.
