CRIMINAL PROSECUTION 03/11/2022
Court Fixes November 22 for Judgment in N2.9b Fraud Suit
Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed November 22, 2022, to deliver judgment on an N2.9billion fraud suit against a former employee of Eunisell Limited, Kenneth Amadi.
The judge fixed the date following the adoption of final written addresses by counsel to the parties.
Amadi was slammed with an N2.9billion fraud charge by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
At the last proceedings on the matter, Justice Allagoa ruled against the no-case submission application filed by Amadi, challenging the charge brought against him by the FGN.
In his ruling, the judge held that the prosecution has raised issues that require the embattled ex-staff to proffer answers to, prompting the court to order Amadi to open his defence.
Amadi had contended that the prosecution has not been able to make prima facie evidence that linked him to the case and as such has no business being in court.
He then urged the court to strike out the criminal charge against him and accordingly acquit and discharge him without any further delay.
But the prosecution urged the judge to discountenance the prayers of the defendant because a case has been made against him and he ought to put up a defence.
The prosecution then asked the court to order Amadi to open his defence.
Specifically, Amadi and his company, IDID Nigeria Limited, are being tried before the court on a five-count charge of conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N2.9 billion.
The charges bordered on receiving and obtaining by false pretence, with intent to defraud, the sum of N2, 900,000,000 belonging to Eunisell Ltd, from A-Z Petroleum Ltd and AMMASCO International Ltd; omitting making full and true entry thereof in the books and accounts; suppression of data in respect of the financial transfer to Eunisell Ltd; and converting the same amount without authority to create sufficient deposits to promote the credibility of his own company (IDID Nigeria Limited).
