A Federal High Court, Lagos, sitting before Justice Rilwan Aikawa has ordered the arrest of a businessman, Chukwunonso Nwobi, over his failure to appear before the court to answer the criminal charges filed against him by the men of Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (Force CIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Force CIID had charged the businessman alongside his company, Trade Block Energy Limited, situated at 10, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, on a 17-count-charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, unlawful fund conversion, issuance of dud cheques, and fraud of N44.864 million.
The court order for the arrest of the businessman was sequel to an application filed and moved by the prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun.
In urging the court to issue arrest warrant against the businessman, Animashaun told the court that the defendant have failed to appear before the court for three consecutive times that the matter came up, adding that all efforts to bring him before the court did not yield positive result.
The prosecuting counsel told the court that unless an order for his arrest is made, it may be uneasy for the defendant to be arrested and thereafter urged the court to issue an arrest warrant against the businessman.
Justice Aikawa, while issuing the order said: “Upon perusal of my record, this is the third time that this matter will be coming up before me and the defendant has never been before the court to take his plea. I’m constrained to grant the application”.
Consequently, Justice Aikawa ordered the arrest of the businessman and adjourned the matter to June 26, for mention.
The ForceCIID in a charge marked FHC/L/165c/18, alleged that the businessman, his company and others now at large, sometimes in 2017, conspired among themselves and defrauded three companies, Bohr Maritime Limited, Hunds Oil Services Limited and Loft Limited, owned by Mr. Egwudo Onyeka of the sum of N44. 864 million, under the pretence of supplying him petrochemical product.
The defendants were also alleged to have issued several cheques of Zenith Bank and Diamond Bank Plc, in a bid to reimburse the complainant in the charge, but upon presentation of the said cheques, they were returned for insufficient funds in their accounts
The offences according to the prosecutor, are contrary to and punishable under sections 8 (a), 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006. And Sections1(1)(b)(2) of the dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count one of the charge against the defendant reads: That you Chukwunonso Nwobi ‘m’, Trade Block Energy Limited and others at large sometimes in August 2017, at No. 10, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, 2nd floor, Rock House, Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos conspired together to defraud one Egwudo Onyeka ‘m’, Managing Director of Bohr Maritime Limited of the sum of Thirty One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N31, 200, 000, 00) only for the supply of petrochemical products (PMS) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other fraud related offences Act, 2006.
Count 2: That you Chukwunonso Nwobi ‘m’, Trade Block Energy Limited and others at large sometime in August 2011, at No. 10, Oshodl-Apapa Expressway, 2 Floor, Rock House, Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos did by false pretences and with intent to defraud fraudulently obtained the sum of Thirty One Million, two Hundred thousand Naira (N13, 200,000, 00) only property of one Egwudo Onyeka ‘m‘, Managing Director of Bohr Maritime Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Another count reads: “that you Chukwunonso Nwobi ‘m‘, Trade Block Energy Limited and others at Iarge, sometime in August 2017, at No. 10, OshodI-Apapa Expressway, 2nd Floor, Rock House, Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of Thirty One Million, two Hundred Thousand Naira (N31,200,00.00) only property of one Egwudo Onyeka ‘m‘. Managing Director of Bohr Maritime Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act C39, LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 390 of the same criminal Code Act, 2004.
Another count reads: “that you Chukwunonso Nwobi ‘m’, Trade Block Energy Limited and others at large sometime In August 2017. at No. 10, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. 2nd Float, Rock House. Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court,with intent to defraud issued a Zenith Bank Plc Cheque No. 89851975 dated 27th October, 2017 for the sum of N7, 000, 000.00 (Seven Million Naira) in favour of Hunds Oil Limited, which cheque upon presentation for payment was dishonoured on grounds of insufficient fund in the account and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(1)(b)(2) of the dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, CAP D] l Lows of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Another count reads: “that you Chukwunonso Nwobl ‘m‘, Trade Block Energy limited and others at large sometime In August 2017, at No. 10, Oshodl-Apapa Expressway, 2nd floor, Rock House, Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos conspired together to defraud one Obinna Egwudo ‘m’. Managing Director of Loft Limited of the sum of thirty one Million, Six Hundred and Sixty-four thousand Naira, (N31. 664, 000.00) only for the supply of petrochemical products (PMS) and thereby committed on offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, 2006.
The last count reads: “that you Chukwunonso Nwobl ‘m‘, Trade Block Energy Limited and others at large sometime In August 2017, at No. 10, Oshodl-Apapa Expressway. 2nd Floor Hoot, lock House, Apapa, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Count, with intent to defraud. issued a Zenith Bank Plc Cheque No: 88758858 dated 20th September, 2017 for the sum of N10. 000, 000.00 (N10 Million Naira) in favour of Loft Limited, which cheque upon presented for payment was dishonoured on grounds of insufficient funds in the account and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(2) of the dishonoured Cheques (Offences) J 4 1, CAP D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
