Alleged N83m Fraud: Court Issues Summons For Witness To Testify

Justice Adenike Coker of the High Court of Lagos State, Nigeria, has issued a witness' summons to enable one Monday Deekor to continue his evidence in the N83m fraud charge slammed against Obande Emmanuel, Dauda Akeem, Fagunwa Michael, and Abdul Samson who are answering questions to a five counts charge bordering on the offence.

The court arrived at the decision after entertaining arguments from counsels during proceedings on the matter last Thursday. 

The judge adjourned the case until February 16, 2023, for the continuation and conclusion of the prosecution's case.

While proceedings lasted on the charge designated ID/10412C/2019, the prosecutor, Sylvester Azubuike, had informed the judge that for Deekor to continue his evidence, he will be requiring a witness summons for his new employer to release him to testify before the court.

But all the defendants' lawyers which included Barrister Jude for the 1st defendant, Barrister Ayo Orobowale for the 2nd defendant, Barrister Eniola Abass for the 3rd defendant, and Barrister E. U. Oroffa for the 4th defendant, claiming that the request was a ploy to delay the trial.

Barrister Gbenga Ajala held a watching brief for the nominal complainant.

However, in his reaction, Azubuike prayed to the court for the last opportunity to allow him to produce his witness and close the case of the prosecution. 

In her ruling, Justice Coker granted the prosecution's request and accordingly adjourned the matter.

Before Thursday's sitting on the matter, an oil marketer and dealer, Mrs. Funmi Alebiosu had informed the judge as to how four of her employees allegedly defrauded her of a sum to the tune of N83m, while she was away in the United Kingdom (UK), very sick.

While being led in evidence by Azubuike from the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Alebiosu confirmed to the judge that she received a call from her business partners, Oando, complaining about the reduction in her company’s capital, and had asked for recapitalisation.

Alebiosu also informed Justice Coker that the defendant, Obande Emmanuel, alongside three others said to be at large, between 2018 and 2019, during their employment, allegedly stole and dishonestly converted the sum of N7 million to the benefit of Abdul Samson.

The businesswoman further revealed that her former filling station manager, Emmanuel, connived with others to steal the company’s sales, by collecting the sum of N7.7 million from the daily cash sales without remitting the same into the company’s account.

Alebiosu insisted that the defendants dishonestly converted the sum of N10, 560,000 in sales to their benefit.

It would be recalled that the defendant and others were alleged to have between 2018 and September 17, 2019, within Lagos, whilst being employees of Oando Service Station, conspired among themselves to commit a felony, to wit; stealing the sum of ₦22,234,000, property of Oando Service Station.

The Nigerian Police had specifically docked Obande Emmanuel, Dauda Akeem, Fagunwa Michael, and Abdul Samson on a five counts charge bordering on fraud.

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