Alleged N1.3bn theft: EFCC docks telecoms workers

(NIGERIA) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two persons, claimed to be employees of MTN Nigeria Limited, over allegation of theft to the tune of N1.3 before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

The defendants, Victor Akintunde and Gani Mustapha were docked on a 17 counts bordering on alleged theft said to be owned by members of the MTN Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, MEMCOS.

The anti-graft agency through its lawyer told the court that the duo who were the association’s president and secretary respectively, allegedly committed the crime  between April and September, 2009 in Lagos.

Docked alongside the defendants is a property developer, Mutairu Babatunde and two companies – Primavera Engineering and Construction Limited and Mabo Dredging Limited.

The EFCC while arguing before the court maintained that Akintunde and Mustapha fraudulently obtained the said sum stolen as sundry payments to facilitate the purchase of 13 hectares of land at Okun Ajah community in Lagos on behalf of MEMCOS members.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly forged the signature of one Chief Atiku Adigun on a deed of assignment to facilitate the fraud, with an addition that they also issued a dud First Bank cheque in the sum of N427m in favour of MEMCOS on April 25, 2009.

According to the EFCC, "The offence is contrary to sections 390(9), 467 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 and Section 1(1) (a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D11, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The anti-graft agency however informed Justice Lawal-Akapo that Akintunde and Mustapha had been granted bail in the sum of N50m each before Justice Kudirat Jose of the same court, adding that the absence of Babatunde had prevented their arraignment.

EFCC consequently asked the judge to allow the defendants to take their pleas. On arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

The judge ordered the remand of Babatunde in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, pending the hearing of his bail application.