Police Charge 12 To Court For Swindling UBA Of N139.8m
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Ikoyi-Lagos, has charged 11 persons and a limited liability company, before a Lagos Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding United Bank for Africa (UBA) of the sum of N1139. 860 million.
Those accused of swindling UBA of the said sum are: Obinna Michael Umeanor, Lanre Smith, Bashir Adamu Gusau, Ogugua Anthonia and a company, Synergy Mineral Resources Limited.
Others include: Afanga Leonard Wodar, Samson Egbuwoku, Ilolo Ogho Gift, Isaac Okorodudu, Nwachukwu Loveth, Bandy Onikoyi and Judith Okorodudu.
SFU in a charge marked FHC/L/281c/16, alleged that all the accused persons conspired among themselves and obtained the sum of N139, 860 million, under false pretence of supplying 1, 100, 000 litters of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) to different companies.
In the charge, the police alleged that the accused after defrauding UBA of the said money, diverted same into their different companies’ accounts domiciled in Zenith Bank, First Bank, Ecobank Plc and Keystone Bank.
The accused, were also alleged to have forged a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) with number 21/21/1991AR, registered in the name of Rotimi Olawoye, which property is lying and situated at Lekki Peninsula, Plot 6, Block B2, Etiosa Area of Lagos State, which they used in defrauding UBA.
The accused allegedly committed the offences sometimes in October 2014.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, are contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1)(a)(b) and 15(1)(a)(ii)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, as amended. And Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap. M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
At the resumed hearing of the matter Monday, which was scheduled for the arraignment of the accused, only three of the accused were in court.
In asking the court for an adjournment, counsel to the fourth accused person (Ogugua Anthonia), Mr. Sam Ogungbamila, apologized to the court for the absence of his client, saying that his client was only aware of the pendency of the charge recently when she was invited by the police.
Ogungbamila also told the court that his client took ill over the weekend and she is currently on admission in an hospital undergoing treatment.
In the same vain, counsel to Isaac Okorodudu, the ninth accused, Mr. C. E. Ejike, informed the court that his client was in court today, but he also took ill before the court start sitting.
Ejike, urged the court for a short adjournment, with an assurance that his client will be in court at the next adjourned date.
Following the plea of the counsel, the prosecution did not oppose their request.
Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, adjourned the matter till May 15, for arraignment of all accused persons.
