Alleged N299.86m Fraud: Court Summons Ex-Zamfara Governorship Aspirant, Others

A Federal High Court in Lagos has summoned a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples’ Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Zamfara State, Adamu Bashir and two others to take their plea on an alleged N299.86 million fraud charge.

The others are a firm, OBD Petroleum Limited; and its Managing Director Umeanor Obinna Michael.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro issued the bench warrant on Wednesday, sequel to an application by a senior counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni.

Bode-Ayeni alleged that the defendants had failed to show up for their arraignment since the charges were filed against them.

She also prayed the court to order the defendants’ sureties to show cause, pursuant to section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Justice Awogboro granted the application and adjourned till March 3, for the defendants’ arraignment.

According to the amended charge marked FHC/L/281c/2016, the defendants on or about October 2014, obtained loans of N160million and N139.8million in two tranches from a bank by false pretence and with intent to defraud.

The defendants allegedly pretended that the money would be used to supply 2.2million litres of AGO to LastaI Energy, Limited.

They were previously arraigned on similar charges before Federal High Court judge Justice Saliu Saidu.

They pleaded “Not guilty” before the judge and were released on bail. Following Justice Saidu’s retirement from the Bench, the case was transferred to Justice Awogboro.