Patrick Doyle In N91 Million Tax Scam

Detectives from State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria, have arraigned Mr. Patrick Omojuwa Doyle (not the well known artiste and impressario), before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, on a three-count charge of fraud-related offences.

Patrick, 63, who resides at 18, Rafiu Street, Surulere, Lagos, was accused of committing the offences by using his position as the administrative manager of Jubaili Brothers Limited, an engineering company, located at Apapa, Lagos, between 2002 and 2005, to divert the sum of N91, 501, 628.90, the income tax deducted from the company’s workers’ salaries to his domiciled account at Trans International Bank Plc, which had now been merged with Spring Bank Plc.

The prosecuting police officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Innocent Effiong, said the offences are punishable under section 516, 419 and 390 (9), of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.

Count two of the charge reads: “that you Patrick Omojuwa Doyle, of 18, Rafiu Street, Surulere, Lagos, and others now at large, between 2002 and 2005, while serving as administrative manager of Jubaili Brothers Limited, an engineering company, located at Apapa, Lagos, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N91, 501, 628.90, from Jubaili Brothers (Engineering) Limited, Apapa Branch, Lagos, under the false pretence that you paid the said amount to the revenue account of the Lagos State government as income tax of numerous workers of the company for the period, which you failed to do but rather diverted same to your personal account number 303063487 domiciled at Trans International Bank Plc. now merged with Spring Bank Plc., a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.

punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.”

Count three reads: “that you Patrick Omojuwa Doyle, of 18, Rafiu Street, Surulere, Lagos, and others now at large, between 2002 and 2005, while serving as administrative manager of Jubaili Brothers Limited, an engineering company, located at Apapa, Lagos, did steal the sum of N91, 501, 628.90, property of Jubaili Brothers (Engineering) Limited, Apapa Branch, Lagos, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003.”

Patrick pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. Philip A.Ojo, a Chief Magistrate, admitted him to bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ojo also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of paying taxes to Lagos state government, evidence of livelihood, and they must be residing within the magisterial district.

The case has been adjourned till 3 June, 2003, for trial.

— Paul Sanusi