10th December, 2022
Akin Kuponiyi
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has docked some officials of Cashigo International Limited for alleged obstruction of the investigation by the Federal Competition and Protection Commission.
The four officials of the company arraigned alongside the company, are Liu Xu David, Olayinka Akintunde Ojomo, Emeka Odom, and Laurratta Stanley Akwuru.
The company and its four officials are accused of preventing the investigation by the commission from commencing.
According to a five-count charge filed before the court, Cashigo International Limited, Liu Xu (David) (M), Olayinka Akintade Ojomo (M), Emeka Odom (M) and Laurratta Stanley Akwuru (F) at various times between March 11, 2022 and March 22, 2022 at Ikeja, Lagos did prevent, impede and obstruct the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to obtain and exchange information required.
They are accused of trying to undermine, compromise or interfere with the investigation by soliciting, offering, giving and receiving financial gratification for obtaining such information; and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 110 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
It was further alleged that Cashigo International Limited, Company Liu Xu (David) 1 (M) and Olayinka Akintade Ojomo at various times between March 11, 2022 and March 22, 2022 at Ikeja, in the course of conducting and in furtherance of their employment or business engaged in coercion, undue pressure and unfair tactics, including but not limited to, harassment, intimidation, threat making and publishing an untrue statement, unsubstantiated facts and unproven malicious, criminal and other allegations about certain persons/customers to them and third parties with the intention to cause apprehension, anxiety, reputational damage, and by these to coerce them into making certain payments or comply with their requests and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under Section 155 of the said Act.
Cashigo International Limited, Liu Xu (David) (M), Olayinka Akintade Ojomo (M) and Emeka Odom (M) at various times between March 11, 2022 and March 30, 2022, at Ikeja, Lagos during the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission provided information which they knew to be false and misleading and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 112 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
In count five of the charge one of the defendants Laurratta Stanley Akwuru (F) on March 28, 2022 at Ikeja, Lagos, without reasonable cause failed and refused to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in compliance with a lawfully issued Summons to Attend and Produce dated March 25, 2022, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
The Court thereafter adjourned the case till the 14th of February 2023 for trial.