Cross Country Transport boss In Efcc Net Over N82.85 M Scam

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has fixed February 6 for the arraignment of a major transport firm, Cross Country Limited, and its Chairman, Mr. Bube Okorodudu, for stealing N82.85m.

They were charged along with Car Link Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with nine counts of stealing, conspiracy to steal, forgery and uttering.

The EFCC alleged that the accused conspired among themselves and stole the money, being proceeds of alleged fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Limited.

The anti-graft agency filed the suit, with charge number, ID/2679C/13 and dated August 1, 2013, before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

According to Mr. Francis Usani, who signed the charges on behalf of the EFCC, the accused stole the money between February 13, 2008 and August 14, 2009.

Those the EFCC claimed the buses were fraudulently sold to were GMT Nigeria Ltd; Multichoice Nigeria Ltd; and Law Union and Rock/TFS Finance Ltd.

The accused were said to have forged and “uttered” a document titled: ‘Nigeria Customs Service Motor Vehicle Duty Certificate’ with number A008911777 to facilitate the alleged stealing.

The alleged offence was said to have contravened section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap. C17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

The prosecution claimed that other offences of forgery and uttering violated provisions of Sections 467 and 468 of the same law.

Man Arrested Over N30.7million Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a property agent, Nwogu Peters, before Justice K.A. Jose of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on 22 counts of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.

EFCC said Peters allegedly placed an advertisement in a national newspaper   on Monday, February 16, 2009, alerting the public to some properties available for letting.

The suspect was said to have used the name of his outfits- Diplomatic Service Consultancy Limited and Christian Defence Fellowship, a non-governmental organisation- for the scam.

He was alleged to have collected money from various people under the pretext of letting the properties to them, which he never did.

The charges read in part, “That you, Nwogu Peter (a.k.a. Dr. N.D.C. Peters) and DSCL Services Consulting Limited, on or about the 16th day of February, 2009, in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division by false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtained  N5.4m by false pretence from Mrs. Christie Abutu-Obiozo by falsely representing to her that the said sum represented two years rent in respect of your property measuring three bedroom flat with one-room boys quarter lying, and being situate at No. 4 Kingsley Emu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos which representation you know to be false.”

When the charges were read to him, Peters pleaded not guilty.

EFCC counsel, Francis Usani, urged that the suspect be remanded in prison, while the counsel for the accused, C. J.  Jiekeonn, prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Jose adjourned the case to November 19, 2013 for hearing on the bail application, and February 3, 4 and 5, 2014 for trial.

He ordered that the accused person be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos pending the hearing of the bail.

Credit: punch