As a result of their alleged involvement in stealing and conversion of a sum to the tune of $4.7million to their use, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lionstone Services Limited, Amaechi Ndili, together with his wife and Vice President of the company, Njide Chizoba Ndili, were on Wednesday docked before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
They were arraigned alongside their company on a three counts charge by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The duo were specifically alleged to have dishonestly converted the sum of $4,666,234.28 they received from Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited on behalf of Hercules Offshore Nigeria Limited.
The CEO and his wife were alleged to have obtained the said sum for the contract they, and their firm entered into with Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, which was executed by Hercules Offshore Nigeria Ltd but failed to deliver the said sum to Hercules.
According to the charge before the court, the prosecution through its counsel, Simon Lough (SAN), argued that Lionstone Limited was engaged by Hercules as its local partner and to receive payments on its behalf in respect of contracts it executed for Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited.
Lough (SAN) further stated that the $4,666,234.28 formed part of the payments the defendants received on behalf of Hercules, and of which they failed to remit to Hercules in accordance with their agreement, but instead, allegedly converted the money to their personal use.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes the provision of Sections 516, and 387 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
However, the couple pleaded not guilty to the charge slammed against them by the Police, which led their counsel, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), to pray to the court to grant them bail.
The senior lawyer equally notified the court that the first defendant (Amaechi) had earlier been granted bail when he was arraigned before Justice Sherifat Sholebo.
Admitting the duo to bail, Justice Abike-Fadipe allowed the first defendant to continue with the bail granted earlier by Justice Sholebo.
Justice Abike-Fadipe also granted bail to the second defendant in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum, while also ordering that one of the sureties must have landed property in Lagos State. The court also directed that the surety must have evidence of tax payment.
The judge directed that all documents, including addresses of the defendants and sureties, must be verified by the court’s orderly.
Justice Abike-Fadipe mandated that all conditions must be met within 14 days and that upon failure to meet the conditions, the second defendant would be remanded in a correctional facility in Lagos.
The case has been adjourned until January 30, 2023, for trial and hearing of pending applications.
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