The Nation Newspaper

Tag: businessman

  • Alleged N627m scam: Businessman accuses EFCC of illegal detention

    Alleged N627m scam: Businessman accuses EFCC of illegal detention

    •Buhari, IGP petitioned  •Agency denies claim

    THE Federal Government has been urged to investigate alleged torture and illegal detention of the Managing Director of Kafisto Oil and Gas Ltd, Mr. Uwem Antia and his business partner, Alhaji Suleiman Yerima by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.

    He was allegedly detained over a N627 million foreign exchange deal, which purportedly belonged to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Yerima, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said he had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase on the alleged inhuman treatment and torture meted out to them while in EFCC detention for 80 days without trial.

    The businessman alleged that his partner, Antia, was tortured, beaten and his legs broken by EFCC operatives in Lagos in an attempt to force him to confess to an offence he did not commit.

    But EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren denied the allegations.

    Yerima alleged that despite a court order that his lawyer be contacted any time the EFCC needed his attention, the operatives went into his ex-wife house in Lagos, took her away with a Mercedes Car belonging to him.

    He added that till now, the whereabouts of his former wife is unknown.

    The businessman accused the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, the Director of Operation of EFCC in Lagos, Iliyasu Kwarbai and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Joseph Mbu, of violating their fundamental rights over a business transaction that was legitimately carried out without any of the parties involved complaining.

    The businessman said he was approached by Antia, who brought customers to him, to raise dollars for him, saying N627 million had been paid into his (Antia’s) account and that he should source the dollar equivalent.

    Yerima said he raised $1 million that day and gave same to Mr. Gladys Aginwa and Dennis Ale, who acknowledged receipt in their handwriting.

    He said the balance of $2.250 million was raised the following day and paid to Dennis and Aginwa, which they equally acknowledged in their handwriting.

    Yerima explained that he was surprised when the EFCC operatives invaded his house and that of his friend and arrested them on allegation that he defrauded some people in a forex deal.

    He said it was in the course of investigations that the EFCC operatives alleged that the money belonged to the former first lady.

    The businessman added that the EFCC demanded the original copies of the documents regarding the transaction, but they refused for fears that they could be destroyed.

    He said they insisted they would make them available only in court, adding that it was at this point that the EFCC operatives began to torture them.

    Yerima alleged that his life and that of his partner were in danger and urged the President to expedite action on his petition.

    He described the leadership of the EFCC as corrupt, alleging that its top operatives demanded $500,000 dollars from them.

    However, the spokesperson of the EFCC dismissed the allegations against top officials of the agency.

    Uwujaren referred to an EFCC statement dated March 9, this year, saying Yerima and Antia are fraudsters and would be arraigned accordingly pending conclusion of investigation.

    He said the EFCC does not torture or maltreat accused persons.

    He added that the duo were yet to pay the balance of $2.250 million dollars to the other businessmen.

    Uwujaren alleged that it amounted to cheap blackmail on the part of the accused persons to petition the president that top officials of the anti-graft agency were demanding bribe from them.

     

  • Businessman arraigned for alleged N2.7m fraud

    A businessman, David Badmus, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N2.7million under false pretences.

    Prosecuting Inspector Richard Odigie said the accused committed the offence on June 16 at 14, Nosa Close, off Sand- Fill, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

    Odigie said the accused collected N2.7million worth of iron rods from the complainant, Mr Anthony Udochukwu, on the pretext that he needed them for a project at Ojo Local Government Council.

    “Badmus approached Udochukwu that he needed N2.7million worth of iron rods to execute a project and issued two Sterling Bank cheques with nos. 06664125 and 06664126 which were dishonoured on presentation,’’ he said.

    Badmus pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate O.I. Adelaja granted the accused N300,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case has been adjourned till July 1.

  • Trader ‘dupes’ businessman of N3.2m

    A trader, Blessing Ebele,31, was yesterday arraigned before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N3.2 million from a businessman under the pretext of supplying him 1,800 cartons of matches.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 12 at Iddo Market, Lagos.

    He said the accused fraudulently obtained N3.2million from one Mr Abiodun Adeniyi, under the pretext of supplying him the goods.

    According to the prosecutor, the accused did not supply the goods as promised and also refused to refund the money when it was demanded.

    The accused,  pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the case till May 26.

     

     

  • Businessman ‘swindles’ accountant of N1.3m

    Businessman ‘swindles’ accountant of N1.3m

    A 43-year-old businessman, Lamidi Moruf was yesterday at a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos charged with defrauding an accountant of N1.3 million.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chidi Okoye told the court that Moruf committed the offence in February at the Lagos Island Branch of Zenith Bank on Campbell Street.

    He said the accused induced Mr Olushola Sonaike, an accountant, to part with N1.3 million under the guise of helping him to buy a second-hand Toyota Corolla car from the Republic of Benin.

    Okoye said Moruf failed to buy the car after receiving the money. He did not also refund the money.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 285 (1) and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Sonaike was in court as witness.

    Chief Magistrate A.O. Awogboro granted Moruf N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till June 2.

     

  • Businessman in court for N35m ‘fraud’

    A Lagos-based businessman, Elvis Ezeani, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a Bureau de Change operator (BDC) of N35 million.

    He is accused of conspiring with a convict Joseph Morah to defraud Mr Anwalu Abdulrahman.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Morah had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the same offences by Justice Sadiq Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    EFCC counsel Aliu Yusuf told Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye that the accused conspired with Morah to defraud their victim on May 25, 2006.

    Yusuf said Ezeani allegedly obtained N13.5 million and $143,620 from Abdulrahman on separate occasions to transfer on his behalf to his brother in Ghana.

    “Ezeani did not carry out the transactions as agreed between him and the complainant after collecting the money,’’ the prosecutor said.

    Ezeani, he said, violated the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC and was re-arrested in February 2014.

    Yusuf said the accused contravened Sections 1(2) (3) and 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2004.

    The offence of obtaining by false pretences attracts seven years imprisonment.

    Ipaye granted the accused N5 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The judge ordered that the sureties must produce evidence of three years tax payment, adding that their addresses must be verified by the court’s registrar.

    She directed the accused to deposit his international passport with the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court.

    “His passport must only be released to him on this court’s permission,’’ she said.

    The judge adjourned the matter till June 2.

     

  • Businessman jailed for issuing dud cheque

    A 30-year-old businessman, Justin Onyewesi, has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos for issuing a dud cheque to a supplier.

    The GSM accessories dealer collected five cartons of batteries with 4,000 pieces from Mr Ejike Itanyi.

    He issued a cheque for N742, 555 to Itanyi, who got to bank and was told that there was insufficient fund in Onyewesi’s account.

    Justice Mohammed Idris sentenced him to a one-year jail term after the convict pleaded guilty to the four-count charge of fraud and issuance of dud cheque.

    He said the prison term would be computed from when the convict was arrested.

    “Following the plea of the accused, he is convicted as charged, and is hereby sentenced to a one-year imprisonment on each count. The term of imprisonment shall run concurrently and shall begin from October 2, 2013, the date of his arrest,” the judge said.

    Onyewesi was first arraigned on January 1. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, on October 22, he changed his plea, saying: “I am guilty as charged.”

    The prosecutor, Mr Nosa Watson, said the fraudster committed the offence on August 17 last year in Okota, Lagos.

    The offences contravened sections 419 and 419 (b) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004; and Sections 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act, 2004.

  • Businessman kidnapped in Abia

    A businessman, Mbah Emeh, has been kidnapped in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

    It was gathered that the victim’s Toyota Highlander was recovered by the police at Umule on the outskirts of Aba.

    Sources said the abductors have demanded N10million, but no family member could be reached for comments.

    Commissioner of Police Adamu Ibrahim was also unavailable.

  • ‘My wife denies me sex on pretext of attending vigil’

    A 39-year-old businessman, Oluwasegun Oyedeji, has prayed the Customary Court in Alakuko, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve his 10-year old marriage.

    He is seeking the dissolution of his marriage to Basirat for allegedly harassing him at his work place, denying him sex and being stubborn.

    He said: “My wife is not caring at all. She doesn’t treat my relations with respect. We were ejected from three different houses because of my wife’s bad character.

    “Our first child was 41 days old when we began to experience a crack in our marriage. My parents and my in-law knew everything that happened in our home. This was because we were living with my parents while a fence separated us from my in-law. My wife was complaining that she was not comfortable living in my parents’ house, so I thought she needed her privacy and we moved into my uncompleted house, two weeks after, my wife complained she could not stand the sight of rodents in the house, especially when she was in the kitchen. Whenever I wanted to make love to her, she always hid under the cover of attending a vigil. I was frustrated and had to rent another apartment because we already had three children. Actually, that was the last time we lived as a couple.

    “She once created a scene of sorts in my place of work when she insisted on having the custody of our children. She claimed to be protective of her children, but our five- year- old child was raped under her care, a situation that later resulted in an infection in her private part. Now, it has started festering. I want my children to live with me because my wife can hardly take care of herself.”

    His wife denied the allegations, saying: “He doesn’t care about our children’s welfare. He was responsible for our being ejected from our first apartment. This is the third year since we did anything together as a couple. He only caters for the children’s needs.  Contrary to his claims, I did not disrespect any of his siblings and my daughter is hale and hearty.”

    The couple has three children: Fuad (11), Aliyah (8) and Muinat (5).

    The court’s President, Chief Godwin Awosola, ordered Mrs. Oyedeji to pay N5, 000 for rough-handling the court’s staff who served her the summons.

    The case was adjourned till September 15, for dissolution.

  • Gunmen abduct businessman in Aba

    Gunmen have abducted a businessman, simply identified as Benson, in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

    Benson was reportedly abducted on Monday at 9.30pm near the State Teaching Hospital’s permanent site on the Ayaba Umueze Road in Osisioma Local Government Area. He was riding in his Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    Information on the incident was sketchy last night as the family of the victim could not be reached for comments.

    Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu said the victim’s family had not lodged a complaint with the police.

    The police chief said efforts by his men to reach the victim’s family were unsuccessful.

    “We also heard the rumour about the man’s abduction. But as I am talking now, the family of the victim is yet to make official report on the incident to the police.

    “I have sent my men for details on the man: where he lives and his family. But these have not been possible,” Adamu said.

  • Businessman advises students on entrepreneurship

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma was at the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNEC). He was there on the invitation of Mr. Nicholas Okoye, the founder of Empower Nigeria and President of Anabel Group to talk to the students about entrepreneurship.

    Chukwuma stunned the students with his 80 per cent fluency in English language. Before then, the story was that he was a complete illiterate. But that impression changed after his delivery extempore.

    He announced that for low and middle-class Nigerians desiring to drive brand new cars.

    “They would have their dreams realised in few days time. The brand new cars with air condition and other gadgets would sell at between N1.5 million and N3.5million.

    His company, Innoson Group of Companies, manufactures cars, buses, tankers and other products. Chukwuma said to the students: “I think afar. Before, people would be in doubt about what I do for a living. I have already gone far. My plant at Enugu here is not for plastic manufacturing. It is for manufacturing of plastic components of motorcycle. But because the plant is big, I added the manufacturing of plastic upholsteries so that the workers will be busy.

    “I did all these because I was thinking of how to make motorcycle parts cheaper. Today, motorcycles sell at N60, 000 compared to the old price of N150, 000. I want everybody to know that it’s not a must that people must work in government or wait for the government to create jobs.

    “I use myself as an example. I don’t work in government. But I have made it in life. I have also touched the lives of many who are in our employ. I have over 7,500 people in my employ.

    I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. I am just a manufacturer. In my humble beginning, I never knew we are going to get this far. The most important thing in life is for people to have the interest in working and think very fast and try to bring new ideas into what they are doing.

    Today, I have a vehicle factory where we manufacture cars. To have a vehicle factory does not necessarily involve huge amount of money. It only needs ideas. There were a lot of vehicle manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Some succeeded, while some failed. Before I started mine, I did a comprehensive feasibility study about them for about seven years.

    During those years, people thought I was wasting my time. After the study, I found out why Nigeria finds it difficult to produce cars. I then set up my car assembly plant which is now a success.

    On August 8, this year, I will launch my own air conditioned cars which will be sold between N1.5million and N3.5million. My factory is not an assembly plant. Eighty per cent of Nigerians do not believe that we manufacture vehicles in my company. But we manufacture, that’s what we do. The raw materials are bought from different countries and some are procured in Nigeria.

    I am here to tell you how I started and what informed my progress.”

    The founder of Empower Nigeria and President of Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye expressed delight that such a successful entrepreneur like Chukwuma was able to honour the invitation to speak to the youth, regarded as the movers of tomorrow.

    “We are excited that we are in a position to fulfill our promise to the Nigerian people; that we will be taking our message of empowerment, entrepreneurship and support for micro, small and medium-businesses to the hinterland of Nigeria. We are encouraged that we have a solution for Nigeria which, in our opinion, can reduce the unemployment rate in our society by considerable measure and set the stage for a new Nigeria that guarantees all-round access to opportunities for all citizens,” Okoye said.

    The Empower Nigeria road show would also be held in Nnewi, Umuahia, Uyo, Asaba, Yenegoa, Port Harcourt and Calabar.