A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Jan. 8 for arraignment of a businessman, Ndubuisi Amadi and his company IDID Nigeria Ltd., charged with N2.9 billion fraud.
The defendants are charged on five counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, fraud, altering of document, concealment, and diversion of funds.
They are being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The defendants were alleged to have committed the offences sometime in 2016, when they allegedly obtained the sum of N2.9 billion from A-Z Petroleum Ltd and Ammasco International Ltd, which sum is said to be owned by a company known as EUNISELL Nigeria Ltd.
When the case was called before Justice Mohammed Liman, Mr Alilu Aminu, appeared for the AGF, while Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN) appeared for the defendants.
Defence counsel then informed the court that the defendants had yet to be served with the charge so as to enable him appear and stand trial.
Etiaba consequently, opted to accept service of the charge on behalf of the defendants.
After he was served with the charge by the prosecutor, the parties then agreed that the case be adjourned until Jan. 8, 2020, for arraignment of the defendants.
In counts two of the charge, Amadi who is described to be serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IDID Nig Ltd, was said to have altered document, invoices and waybills to A-Z Petroleum Ltd and Ammasco Ltd, for them to act upon as genuine to the prejudice of EUNISELL Ltd.
The defendant was alleged to have suppressed data in respect of financial transfer made to EUNISELL with intent to confer economic benefits on himself.
The defendants were alleged to have converted the said sum of N2.9 billion for which they were trustees to create sufficient deposit so as to promote the credibility of their own company.
Amadi was alleged to have received the said sum belonging to EUNISELL, with intent to defraud, and failed to make full and true entry in the books and accounts of the company.
The offences contavenes the provisions of sections 434 and 435 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004.
It also contravenes the provisions of sections 1(1)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2004, as well as the provisions of sections 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation 2004.
The offences also contravenes the provisions of sections 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015.
