Alleged N201m fraud: Court opens trial of four Abuja company executives

Stanley Ihedigbo

Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory,  FCT,  High Court Zuba has fixed commencement of  hearing of a N201,000,000, alleged fraud involving four Abuja company executives and their company for May 6,  2024.

According to the Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, Mr.  Dele Oyewale, the defendants,  Harry Ositadinma Samuel, Ayodele Raymond, Gowon Usman Egbunu,   Alhaji Nuhu Amanabo and Beligetto Holding Company Limited were arraigned on February 29, 2024 on two-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretense.

Count one reads, “that you Harry Ositadinma Samuel Group Chairman of Beligetto Holding Company Limited, Ayodele Raymond, Managing Director  of Beligetto Holding Company Limited, Gowon Usman Egbunu, Alhaji Nuhu Amanabo, Beligetto Holding Company Limited and others (At Large) sometime in the year 2020 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit; obtaining properties by false pretense, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) and punishable under Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively”.

Count two reads, ‘that you Harry Ositadinma Samuel Group Chairman of Beligetto Holding Company Limited, Ayodele Raymond,

Managing Director  of Beligetto Holding Company Limited, Gowon Usman Egbunu, Alhaji Nuhu Amanabo, Beligetto Holding Company Limited and others (At Large) sometime in the year 2020 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretense and with intent to defraud, obtained 5 units of SUV Toyota Vehicles from one Adeniran Oluwaseun Tope Jeremiah valued at N201,000,000,000.00 only when you presented your company as seen having secured a contract with Nigeria Correctional Service for supply of said vehicles, which fact you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006”.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, which prompted prosecution counsel, Khalid Sanusi to request for a date of commencement of trial and remand of defendants at a Correctional Center.

Justice Ogbonnaya released the defendants on bail upon self-recognition and age, with strict orders to be in court on days of trial. A bond to this effect was signed by them and in the event of noncompliance, the bond will be revoked, and all the defendants will be held in a Correctional Facility till the end of trial.

Also a N50, 000,000.00, bond was set for Beligetto Holding Company Limited. The judge ordered accelerated hearing of the matter and adjourned till May 6, 7, 8 and 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2024.

The defendants are facing trial for obtaining five units of Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, Toyota products valued at N201,000,000,000.00 ,  from a petitioner in the guise of delivering them to the Nigeria Correctional Service as a supply contract.  They neither paid for the vehicles nor returned them to the petitioner.