The Nation Newspaper

Tag: businessman

  • Businessman arraigned for allegedly attempting to steal

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has arraigned a businessman, Ogbo Chidozie Tochukwu, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly attempting to break into a warehouse to steal seized substandard goods.

    He was arraigned with his company, Majestics Tiles Ltd, before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful entry and attempted stealing.

    SON said the company’s warehouse was sealed off by its officials, adding that the defendant and others later broke into it through a back door and attempted to remove the sub-standard goods.

    They were charged along with Ochuehi Ikechukwu, Monday Adumekwe and George Anderson.

    The prosecution said the defendants, whose office is at 125, Agege Motor Road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos on or about January 30, around 09am, broke into Magestics Tiles’ warehouse.

    “They did so allegedly with intent to commit a felony by unlocking the rear door so as not to damage the seal placed by SON at the inside-front door of the warehouse containing 115 cartons of soldering iron, four cartons of CCTV camera and some quantities of 35g of lead.”

    SON said it suspected the goods to be of sub-standard quality, adding that the defendants did not comply with the mandatory industrial standard before importing them.

    The alleged offence of felony is contrary to Section 410 of the Criminal Code Act C39 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 413.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty and were each granted bail for N5 million with two sureties.

    The judge ordered that one of the sureties must be a public servant in either the Lagos State Government or the Federal Government of not below Grade Level 13.

    The judge adjourned till December 10 for trial.

  • Businessman, accomplice arrested for car ‘theft’

    A millionaire businessman, Pius Kingsley Ebere and his accomplice, Peter Attah have been arrested by the police in Mushin, Lagos for alleged car theft.

    Items recovered from them include two headlamps, car stereo, four side door automatic control panels, brain box, side mirrors and four rear seats.

    Ebere was said to have fled when police patrol team led by the Area Commander in-charge of Area ‘D’ Command, Mushin, Akinbayo Olasoji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), stopped his Honda Accord saloon car marked FST 616 DV for a routine check last Friday.

    The auto part dealer in Ladipo International Auto Park Market hurriedly left his car and ran away

    He was chased, arrested and his vehicle was towed to the station.

    When the car was searched, the police said some items, engraved with registration number AAA 472 CP, believed to be that of the vehicle he earlier stole, were recovered from the suspect. They are two headlamps, car stereo, four side door automatic control panels, brain box, side mirrors and four rear seats.

    According to police spokesman Chike Oti a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), investigation showed that the items were stolen from a Lexus GX 472 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), which belonged to Suleiman Waheed Adebola.

    The owner, Oti said, had been contacted and he confirmed that the items were the parts of his car vandalised at Ekoro.

    “Other items recovered from the suspect’s car include five brain boxes of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, four car stereo sets, a pair of Toyota Corolla 2011 rear lights, a pair of Toyota Corolla 2011 headlamps, three pairs of side mirrors and one front grill cover of Infinity Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). The recovered items are engraved with  registration numbers by their owners, who had been contacted by the police to report with proof of ownership.

    “Further revelation by the suspect led to the arrest of his accomplice, Attah, aka Dangote, also an auto parts dealer at Ladipo International Auto Parts market, where a search warrant was executed and assorted suspected stolen car parts were recovered.

    “Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal advised that vehicle owners should engrave their registration numbers on their vehicle parts, to discourage vandals and expose robbers to the police,” Oti said.

    He added: “Recall that on September 12, another auto parts dealer from the same Ladipo market, Daniel Ekwerekwu, was confronted by a police patrol team from Anthony Police Division in the morning while vandalising cars parked on the streets of Mende-Maryland.  Unfortunately his attempt to evade police arrest ended fatally, as his effort to scale a high wall led to his death.”

     

  • Businessman arraigned over alleged illegal importation of firearms

    A businessman, Moses Ifeuwa, on Thursday appeared before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged illegal importation of 1,570 pieces of pump action rifles.

    Justice Saliu Saidu ordered the remand of the accused, after he was arraigned on an eighth-count charge bordering on unlawful importation and possession of firearms.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    After his plea, the Prosecution, Mr Julius Ajakaye, sought for a trial date and urged the court to order the remand of the accused in prison custody.

    Responding, the Defence Counsel, Mr C. J. Jiakeonna, made an oral application for bail of the accused, having being in custody of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for over six months after arrest.

    However, the court urged the counsel to bring a formal bail application before the court

    The judge adjourned the case until Nov. 21 and Nov. 22, for commencement of trial.

    In the charge marked, FHC/L /339C/2018, the accused was alleged to have committed the offences between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20, 2017.

    He was said to have illegally conspired with one Great James Oil and Gas Ltd, Ayogu Great James and Emeka Umeh Festus a.k.a. Amankwa (said to be at large), to import 1,570 pieces of the rifles in a 20-feet container.

    He was also said to have conspired with others, to alter a forged bill of lading marked, ISB0281398 issued on July 28, 2017, to read GUANGDONG- CHINA instead of ISTANBUL- TURKEY.

    He was also alleged to have forged a bill of lading marked, ISB0281398 issued on July 28, 2017, to read “230 packages of wash hand basin and W/C with form ‘M’ number MF20170080364 as the content of the 20-feet container.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Section 1 (14) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Law of the Federation, 2004.

    It also contravened the provisions of Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Law of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)

  • Businessman docked over alleged laptop theft

    A 29-year-old businessman, Abdul Wazo, on Friday appeared before a Lugbe Magistrates’ Court,  Abuja, over alleged theft of mini laptop, cell phones, and car battery worth  N401, 000.

    Wazo of  Iddo Sarki village, Airport Road, Abuja, had pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of house-breaking and theft.

    Prosecutor Ukoha Ndidi had informed the court that on May 5, one  Okoli Chinedu, a resident of Lugbe Zone 5 Abuja, reported the matter at the Lugbe Police Station.

    Ndidi said that on the same date at about 2 a.m, Wazo criminally broke into the complainant’s house and stole one Samsung  laptop, Samsung galaxy 55 cell phone and  Samsung galaxy tab E.

    She added that Wazo also stole one HTC desire320 phone, IPhone 5 and a car battery all valued at N401, 000.

    According to her, during police investigation the Samsung galaxy tab E was recovered from the defendant, but he could not give a satisfactory account of the other stolen items.

    Ndidi told the court that the offences contravened Sections 349 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    The Magistrate, Mr Idharhi Samuel, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N300, 000 , with a surety in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until Nov.2 for hearing. (NAN)

  • Businessman faces assault charge

    A 42-year-old businessman, Augustine Eze, yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly macheting a man.

    Eze, who lives in Isolo, allegedly committed the offence on August 24 at Isolo.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Kendrich Nomayo said the accused attacked the complainant, Mr Moses Ebonwyi, with a machete during a misunderstanding.

    “The accused approached the complainant with a machete and cut his left leg, causing him grievous harm,” he said.

    The accused pleaded not guilt.

    Magistrate T.O Ojo granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Mrs Ojo said the sureties should be employed and show evidence of two years tax payment.

    She adjourned till September 27.

  • Court remands businessman for ‘impersonating U.S. Attorney-General’

    An Ikeja High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a businessman, Khareem Oluwaseyi, who allegedly defrauded people by impersonating United States Attorney-General Jeff Sessions online.

    Vacation judge Justice Oyindamola Ogala remanded Oluwaseyi in prison custody following his plea of not guilty to a five-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents.

    She adjourned till September 10 to hear the defendant’s bail application.

    The defendant was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which said he committed the offences on June 29 in Lagos.

    EFCC counsel Mr A. M. Ocholi alleged that Oluwaseyi contravened sections 1(3) and 68(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    Read also: Two in court for alleged N650,000 fraud

    He added: “The defendant goes by the alias Jeff Sessions and, using the moniker, he created an e-mail address: jeffsessions54@gmail.com.

    “He had in his possession an e-mail correspondence containing false pretence, titled: “Grant Money”, which he sent from that e-mail address to compbellellaine390@gmail.com, the e-mail address of an unsuspecting victim.

    “Oluwaseyi had in his possession another e-mail correspondence, titled: ‘Grant’, which he sent from his Jeff Sessions e-mail address to tomzglamorously@gmail.com, which he knew contained false pretence.

    “He also had sent an e-mail, titled: ‘no subject’, which he sent to daphebarney3@gmail.com, knowing same to be false.”

    According to the prosecutor, Oluwaseyi was arrested with a fraudulent document, titled: “National Endowment for Humanities”.

     

  • Businessman ‘issues’ N900, 000 dud-cheques

    A 34-year-old businessman, Chika Ihemeje, was yesterday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining goods worth N900,000 under false pretence.

    Ihemeje is facing trial on a four-count charge of fraud and issuance of dud-cheque.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said the accused committed the offence between April and August 9, last year, at Orile Coker.

    He said Ihemeje obtained white cement worth N900,000 from the complainant, Mr Munachi Okeakpu.

    Ihemeje, he said, promised to remit proceeds from the goods to the complainant’s account after sales but he failed.

    Mameh said the accused, converted the proceeds into his own use.

    “When the accused was approached for the money, he issued two First City Monument Bank cheques for the sum of N400,000 and N300, 000 respectively in favour of the complainant.

    “But the cheques were rejected on presentation at the bank due to insufficient funds in the account of the accused,” Mameh said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 280 (1) (a)(b), 314 (1) and 321(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Y.O. Aro-Lambo granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties, he said, must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. Their addresses will also be verified by the prosecutor.

    The case continues on September 27.

  • Businessman, bank disagree over ‘lost’ N177.5m

    A businessman, Mr. Elochukwu Emmanuel, has asked a Lagos High Court in Igbosere to compel Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc to pay him N177,500,000, which he lost through the bank’s alleged negligence.

    But Zenith Bank asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the defendant’s loss was caused by his negligence and failure to seek financial advice, among others.

    The claimant filed the suit marked LD/ADR/1632/2018 through his counsel, Festus Keyamo SAN, via a February 23 statement of claim.

    He averred that he entered an agreement with one Ms. Muna, a Chinese with Nigerian business interests to purchase goods from China.

    Owing to his longstanding banking relationship with the defendant, he rejected other banks’ accounts provided by Ms. Muna for payment and insisted that she must present a Zenith Bank account.

    Muna complied and presented account No: 1005689704 with account name, Xian Fang Li.

    The claimant maintained that he confirmed that the account existed before transferring N177,500,000 into it. Shortly afterwards, Muna failed to deliver the goods and subsequently stopped picking his calls and blocked all his access to her contact.

    He visited China twice in search of Muna and even reported the matter to the Chinese Police and Chinese Embassy, but failed to locate her.

    According to him, Police investigation in Nigeria published in their report on the matter showed that the Xiang Fang Li  account was opened by the bank without regard to the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure for account opening.

    The claimant alleged that police investigation reveals that “the utility bills presented in opening the Xiang Fang Li account were fictitious; and the signature of one of the purported referees to the Xiang Fang Li  account, Mr. Kazeem Lawal, was conclusively found to be forged by the account officer, Mr. Muyiwa Onigbelusi. who opened the Xiang Fang Li account.”

    He asked the court to grant him the following reliefs among others:

    “A declaration that the defendant is negligent and reckless in her duties to the claimant and the public in general.

    “An order mandating the defendant to refund the sum of N177,000,090 to the claimant being the sum lost by the claimant due to the negligence of the defendant.

    “An order for the payment of the sum of N10,000,000 as general damages against the defendant for breach of contract.

    “An order of interest at the rate of 15 per cent before judgment and 21 percent post-judgment.”

    But in its statement of defence, Zenith Bank absolved itself of blame.

    It averred that the claimant failed to contact the bank for possible advice on the alleged business transaction he had with Ms. Muna before paying N177,500,000 into the said account.

    The bank stated: “The claimant failed to request a bank guarantee of the alleged sum from or requested that the defendant issued a confirmation or a letter of comfort before dealing with both Ms Muna and Xian Fang Li.”

    It said it verified the identity of the account holder and the customer supplied his International Passport and other sundry documents before the account was opened.

    “The defendant cross-checked, verified and established the identity of the referees supplied by the customer during the account opening.

    “The defendant stated that the referees exist and one of the referees by name Mr. Kazeem Lawal was arrested by the police.

    All the account opening documents filled and supplied by the customer were verified and cross-checked to be true.”

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

     

  • Court remands businessman for allegedly defiling minor

    A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of 40-year-old businessman, Bala Adayi, for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.

    Magistrate Mr. Ibrahim Sidi ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Sidi, who refused to take the plea of the accused, adjourned the case till August 24.

    Adayi, a resident of Ungwan Mabusa Giwa, in Kaduna Area Council, is facing a one -count charge of rape.

    Prosecutor Luka Yilga told the court that Dauda Hayatudeen of Sabuwar Ungwan Giwa Kaduna, reported the case at Giwa Police Station, Kaduna on July 19.

    He alleged that the accused lured the complainant’s daughter to a hidden place, in-between two uncompleted buildings, where he defiled her.

    Yilga said during investigation, the accused confessed to the crime.

    He said the offence contravened Section 258 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.

  • Businessman joins senatorial race

    A businessman, Dr. Desmond Oludare Ojumu, has joined the race to represent Ife-Ijesa Senatorial District of Osun State in the next general elections.

    Ojumu, the president of Eagles Vale Oil and Gass Service Limited, declared his intention to succeed Senator Babajide Omoworare, who is vying for the state’s governorship seat in the November election.

    The aspirant, who is contesting on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said residents of Ife-Ijesa Senatorial District deserve quality representation in the National Assembly.

    He promised to bring his local and international experiences in business to create a society the constituents would be proud of.

    Unveiling his programmes, Ojumu said youth empowerment and job creation would be his focus, adding that the programmes would be felt by every constituent, irrespective of his or her age.