The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bube Okorodudu

  • AG Moeller’s MD bags 16 years for operating without CBN license

     

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced the Managing Director of AG Moeller Nigeria Ltd, Adeloye Olukemi, to 16- year- imprisonment for operating a financial business without a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) license.

    Justice Okon Abang ordered AG Moeller to refund N80million to the complainant Bube Okorodudu, and his transportation firm, Cross Country Ltd.

    The judge also ordered AG Moeller to pay a fine of N1million to the Federal Government.

    Olukemi and his firm were arraigned by the police in 2011 on a five-count charge of conspiracy, felony, fraud and operating a financial business without a valid CBN license.

    Olukemi’s sentence consists of one year imprisonment on count one, three years on count two, seven years on count four and five years on count five.

    The sentences, which will run concurrently, took effect from Thursday.

    In the charge, the police said Olukemi and others at large on March 29, 2007 at 2, Ebun Street, Surulere, Lagos, conspired to transact financial business without a valid license by the CBN.

    This contravened Section 517 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The police further accused the convicts of obtaining N80 million from Okorodudu, in excess of the amount due to them.

    Another count reads: “That you Adeloye Richard Olukemi ‘M’ between March, 2007 and January 2010 at the same place in the aforesaid Judicial Division with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N80m from one Bube Okorodudu, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cross Country Limited in excess of the capital sum of N140m advanced to him through the medium of a contract of finance lease facility induced by false pretence and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (a-c) and Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

    Adeloye and AG Moeller pleaded not guilty.

    But, delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Abang upheld the prosecution’s contention that it had proved its case beyond reason doubt.

    The judge held: “There is no dispute over the allegation of operating a financial business without a valid Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) license because Olukemi confirmed under cross-examination that their operation on financial business was being done without license from the appropriate authority which is CBN.

    “Besides, there is no contradiction on all the exhibits tendered by the prosecution to prove their case, most especially, 2002 CBN guidelines for financial business operations.

    “With all the evidence and exhibits before the court, there is no doubt the accused are guilty of the offences preferred against them by the prosecution. Ignorance is not an excuse in law, therefore the court finds the duo guilty of the five counts.”

    The judgment put an end to an 11-year trial that was triggered by Okorodudu and Cross Country’s March 5, 2011 petition to the CBN Governor.

     

  • Alleged theft: AGF takes over prosecution of Cross Country boss

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday heard that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hands off the prosecution of Cross Country Transport Limited boss, Bube Okorodudu.

    Okorodudu is standing trial before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, alongside his firms, Cross Country and Car Link Limited, for allegedly stealing N82.8 million by fraudulently selling 17 ‎units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Limited and one Adeloye Olukemi.

    ‎At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, a counsel from the office of the AGF, D.E. Kaswe, told the court that the EFCC was no longer prosecuting the matter.

    ‎He said the AGF took over the matter from the EFCC on September 8, while the court was on vacation‎, adding that the case was taken over because of a sister criminal case before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    ‎Praying the court for an adjournment to enable the AGF office collect the original file it requested from the EFCC, Kaswe said it would enable them examine the files and reach conclusion.

    On his part, the defence counsel, Taiwo Taiwo, said Okorodudu had voluntarily submitted himself to the police as directed by the court on July 1.

    “The first defendant (Okorodudu) was in their custody and came to court on July 14 but the court could not sit due to the strike by judiciary workers.

    “He was thereafter granted administrative bail by the police and the reason he is not here today is because I was not aware that the matter will be coming up today,” Taiwo stated.

    After hearing the submissions of both counsel, Justice Lawal-Akapo observed that the practice directive by the National Judicial Council was that judges should give priority to high profile criminal cases.

    He said:”I am not in any way impressed with the explanation given by the prosecution counsel that the AGF office is still trying to take over the original case file from the EFCC since September 8.

    “Counsel from both sides should assist the court in dealing speedily with this matter.”

    He held that the bench warrant issued against Okorodudu on July 1 was still in force.

    Lawal-Akapo ordered the police to arrest and produce him in court at the next adjournment fixed for December 2.

  • Cross Country boss appears in court

    Cross Country boss appears in court

    THE Managing Director of Cross Country Limited, Mr. Bube Okorodudu, was on Monday brought to the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, by a team of policemen from the Zone II Police Command, where he reported himself on Friday, in compliance with a court order.

    Justice Lateef  Lawal-Akapo had on July 8, 2014 issued a bench warrant directing the police to produce Okorodudu in court on July 14, 2014, following a case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Cross Country over an alleged N82.8 million theft which his counsel, Mr. Godswill Mrakpor, has described as “spurious and a calculated attempt to embarrass, ridicule and intimidate his client”.

    The EFCC alleged that they stole the money through the fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and one Adeloye Olukemi.

    However, the trial could not go on because of the nationwide judicial workers’ strike.

    A statement issued yesterday by his lawyer, Mr. Godswill Mrakpor, said: “While my client was out of the country on medical grounds, a bench warrant was issued against him directing the Nigeria Police to produce him in court. As an officer in the temple of justice and knowing my client to be a law abiding citizen, I advised him to return to the country and report himself to any police formation, in obedience to the court order.

    “Hence, upon Mr. Okorodudu’s arrival in the country on Friday, 11th July, 2014, he reported himself at the Zone II Police Command where he was granted bail and asked to report back on Monday, so as to be taken to the court as ordered.

    “Again, as an honourable man who has a lot of respect for the laws of the land, he turned himself in on Monday. A team of about eight policemen took him to the court to answer the summons as reported by the several newspapers on Tuesday, 15th July, 2014. But unfortunately, the court did not sit because of the ongoing judicial workers strike.”

    Mrakpor stated that contrary to the impression being created out there, his client has no reason to disobey the court, adding: “He only travelled out of the country having received a well-considered legal advice that his presence was not yet required since there were two pending applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    “This is more so that this is a civil/business transaction in which AG Moeller Ltd gave a N140 million loan facility to Cross Country Ltd with an agreement that the beneficiary would pay back N228 million within 24 months. However, Cross Country Ltd was able to pay back N223 million in 30 months.

    “Surprisingly, AG Moeller and its promoters wrote my clients claiming a balance of N213 million as default charges and others. When my clients challenged this with facts and figures, they turned round to petition the police alleging that the 40 units of Volkswagen buses that were procured with the facility were stolen by my clients.”

  • Court issues bench warrant on Cross Country boss

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Chairman of Cross Country Nigeria Ltd, Chief Bube Okorodudu, over an alleged N82.8 million theft.

    The court, presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, issued the order when ruling in an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the police to produce Chief Okorodudu on July 8.

    The EFFC requested the court to issue a warrant of arrest on the Cross Country boss, following his absence.

    The anti-graft commission alleged that Chief Okorodudu stole the money through the sale of 17 units of the Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and Mr. Adeloye Olukemi.

    Charged with the Cross Country boss are his two companies, Cross Country Ltd and Car Link Ltd.

    They are facing an eight-count of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

    The court, on May 26, dismissed an application by Okorodudu seeking to quash the theft charges brought against them by the EFCC on the grounds that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo ordered the defendants to appear on July 1 for arraignment.

    But at the resumed hearing yesterday, the defendants again failed to appear.

    EFCC counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo reminded the court of its order, noting that the refusal of the defendants to appear amounted to a disobedience of the court order.

    “My Lord, the reason adduced for the absence of the first defendant (Okorodudu) is not cogent.

    “We ask the court to issue a bench warrant on him so that he can be produced to take his plea,” he added.

    Okorodudu’s counsel, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), however, objected to the request of the commission.

    He said his client was absent because of an appeal filed against the court’s ruling on May 26.

    Clarke told the court that the notice of appeal was before the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division and that the record of proceedings had been transferred to the appellate court.

    He said the defence believed that Okorodu’s presence could be dispensed with in the hearing of the application.

    Counsel to Car Link and Cross Country Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) supported Clarke’s submission.

    He urged the court not to issue the warrant on the same grounds.

    The judge, who refused Clarke’s request to adjourn the matter indefinitely, held that there was no reason given for Okorodudu’s absence.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo noted that the evidence before the court showed that Okorodudu was at the registry of the Ikeja High Court in the morning.

    “The first defendant appeared before the commissioner of oaths this morning (Tuesday) to depose to two affidavits in support of his applications, but did not deem it fit to appear before this court.

    “It is clear that he is taking the court for a ride. The law is not a respecter of any person,” he held.

    The judge said the practice directive issued by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, made it mandatory for courts to give accelerated hearing to criminal matters.

    “This matter is adjourned till July 8 and a bench warrant is issued on the defendant.

    “He is to be arrested and produced to take his plea,” Justice Lawal-Akapo added.

     

  • Court rejects arrest warrant for Cross Country boss

    The Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday rejected the request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, asking the court to issue arrest warrant for a popular transporter, Bube Okorodudu.

    In his ruling, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo dismissed the application, which was filed by the Counsel of the EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson.

    The EFCC had requested for the warrant, following Okorodudu’s refusal to appear before the court to take his plea.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Okorodudu and his transport firm, Cross Country Limited are charged with alleged N82.8 million theft.

    They are charged alongside another company, Car Link Limited.

    They are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

    In the ruling, the judge held that an accused presence’s was not mandatory at the hearing of the preliminary objection.

    “The Court of Appeal held that the presence of the accused can be dispensed with pending the hearing and determination of the application challenging the charge.

    “The lower court is bound by the decision of the higher court.

    “Therefore, the invitation to issue the bench warrant is declined and the application is hereby refused.”

    Lawal-Akapo adjourned until May 7 for hearing of Okorodudu’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

     

  • EFCC seeks bench warrant against Cross Country boss

    EFCC seeks bench warrant against Cross Country boss

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for a bench warrant for the arrest of the Cross Country boss, Chief Bube Okorodudu.

    The request followed the failure of the defendant to appear in court for the second time.

    At the resumed hearing before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, counsel to the EFCC Emmanuel Jackson asked the court to issue a bench warrant on the defendant.

    EFCC said for the second time, Okorodudu failed to appear to take his plea on the charges against him.

    Counsel to Okorodudu Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) objected to the application for a bench warrant.

    He said there was a subsisting application by his client challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the charges against him by the EFCC.

    Clarke argued that the proper procedure was for the court to resolve the issue of jurisdiction before ruling on EFCC’s application for a bench warrant.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo adjourned the matter till April 8.

     

     

    He submitted that the court could not make a pronouncement on a case where its jurisdiction was being challenged.

    After listening to counsel, Justice Lawal-Akapo directed the two lawyers to provide the court with the relevant authorities to assist him in his ruling.

     

     

  • Alleged theft: Transporter’s arraignment adjourned till February 12

    The Lagos High Court on Thursday adjourned the arraignment of a popular transporter, Bube Okorodudu, over an N82.8 million theft, till February 12.

    The arraignment, which was earlier fixed for February 6, was adjourned because it was not listed for hearing by the court in its cause list.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorodudu and his transport firm, Cross Country Limited, will be arraigned alongside another company, Car Link Limited.

    The defendants would be arraigned before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They are facing a nine-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

    The EFCC counsel, Mr. Francis Usani, alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit the offences between February and August, 2009.

    Usani said they stole the money through the fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Limited.

    According to him, the buses are fraudulently sold to GMT Nigeria Limited; Multichoice Nigeria Limited; and Law Union and Rock/TFS Finance Limited.

    He also accused the defendants of forging a document entitled: “Nigeria Customs Service Motor Vehicle Duty Certificate,” to facilitate the alleged stealing.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 390, 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

    NAN recalls that the offence of stealing attracts between seven and 20 years imprisonment, if an accused is found guilty.