4th June, 2013
Three directors of Claysworth Oil Limited, Roland Enang, Sam Onuoha and Theo Ohiagu, were Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court over an alleged N25 million fraud.
The trio who are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC counsel, Mrs Zainab Etuh, alleged that the defendants had on 17 March, 2011 at Ikeja, fraudulently obtained N25 million from Africoat Ltd. by falsely presenting that it represented payment to Delta Omega Ltd. for the procurement of Bank Guarantee from HSBC Bank, Hong Kong.
She said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(2)(3) and 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2004.
The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge while ruling on the bail application moved orally by their counsel, Mr Paul Ananaba (SAN), granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties in like sum.
Onigbanjo said the sureties must be resident in Lagos State and must produce two years tax clearance payable to the state government.
He said one of the sureties must own a landed property in Lagos State while the other surety must be a civil servant not lower than Level 12 cadre.
Onigbanjo directed the defendants to report to the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) on the first Friday of every month pending the determination of the case.
He further directed them to deposit their international passports and other travel documents to the EFCC which must not be released without the express permission of the court.
The judge ordered them to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the perfection of their bail terms.
He adjourned the matter till 16 December, 2013 for trial.
–Henry Ojelu