Crime
Oil Tycoon, Akintoye Akindele Remanded For $5.6m Fraud
Mr. Akintoye Akindele, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Duport Midstream Company Limited, found himself at the center of a legal storm on Friday, as he was ordered to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged involvement in a $5.6 million fraud case.
In a brief ruling, Justice James Omotosho directed Akindele to be remanded in the correctional centre until the completion of his bail process.
The court set the next hearing for March 20, during which it will review the documents confirming the bail previously granted to him.
According to the charge brought forth by the police, Akindele and Duport Midstream Company Limited are accused of diverting $5,636,397.01 and N73,543,763.25 belonging to Summit Oil International Ltd.
Between 2017 and 2021, Akindele and his company, the second defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/570/2023, purportedly diverted funds received from Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited for their personal benefit.
On March 1, Justice Omotosho granted Akindele bail amounting to N750 million, insisting on two sureties who could meet the same financial threshold.
Justice Omotosho, stipulating stringent conditions for bail, mandated that the two sureties must possess landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, swear to an affidavit of means, and deposit their bank account statements with the court registrar.
Granting bail, Justice Omotosho emphasized that the defendant must fulfill all conditions by March 8.
Acknowledging the defendant’s previous bail from the FCT High Court, Justice Omotosho allowed him to maintain that bail until March 8.
However, he maintained that the defendant would be remanded if he failed to meet the conditions of the new bail by March 8.
Following the bail proceedings, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until March 15 for the trial to commence. This decision came after Akindele was arraigned on a four-count charge by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police.
During the subsequent hearing on Friday, the I-G’s lawyer, Mr. Simon Lough, SAN, informed the court that although the trial was scheduled to begin and three witnesses were present, he made an oral application to transfer the case to the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In response, Akindele’s lawyer, Chief James Onoja, SAN, opposed Lough’s oral application, stating his intention to provide a response to the request.
Justice Omotosho also intervened to correct the prosecutor regarding his oral application.
He said “Transfer is just not by oral application. There should be a motion on notice.
“There must be reasons for transfer and it must be by affidavit evidence and you will serve the other party for them to respond.
“If they agree with your reasons, that is that. But if they don’t agree, they have the right to say why it should not be taken to Lagos.”
Lough, however, contended that Section 22 of the FHC Act permitted a judge to transfer a case to a division with jurisdiction, even without a formal request.
Justice Omotosho clarified that while the court had the authority for such transfers, it typically occurred after hearing from all parties involved.
he added “It is not without the evidence of the other party,”
Onoja reiterated that during the previous hearing, the court clearly outlined that the trial would proceed. Despite the prosecution’s presence with their witnesses, they were now pushing for a transfer of the case.
Expressing concern over the fairness of this move, Onoja argued that it disadvantaged the defendant. He stated that he was fully prepared for trial and had not been informed of the prosecution’s intention for transfer despite ongoing communication with Lough.
Highlighting the case’s civil nature, Onoja pointed out that it had already been investigated in Lagos, with no incriminating findings against Akindele. He emphasized the irony of the prosecution initiating the charge and then seeking transfer.
Onoja concluded by informing the court that Akindele’s bail had been successfully secured.
But the judge informed Onoja that the defendant’s bail perfection documents were not in his possession.
Despite Onoja’s insistence that the documents were submitted to the court, he urged one of the registrars to confirm their existence in the court’s custody.
Initially reluctant to examine the documents, the judge eventually called for the file. Upon reviewing it, he noted that the bail was not perfected by March 8, as ordered by the court.
Justice Omotosho observed discrepancies, noting that while the sureties’ letter of introduction was dated March 13, the affidavit of means was dated March 11, three days after the specified deadline.
Expressing his leniency in light of the conditions of the earlier bail, the judge lamented the defendant’s failure to comply.
Akindele’s lawyer, however, appealed to the court not to issue an order for his client’s detention in the correctional center.
The judge was informed that the defendant was indisposed.
Consequently, the judge ordered Akindele to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until the completion of his bail process.
The matter was adjourned until March 20 for the court to review the bail perfection and to hear the application for transferring the case to the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.
A police officer is reportedly dead and another injured following an attack by unknown gunmen on a police checkpoint in the Ohafia area of Abia State.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at Ugwu Abba Asaga, has sparked concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in the region.
The Abia State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the attack. However, when contacted, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, assured reporters that she would provide updates, but no further details had been shared as of the time of this report.
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This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks in Abia State. On Monday, the Abia State government accused unnamed politicians and external parties of fueling kidnappings and violence targeting security personnel and civilians since May 2024. In a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“The promoters of violence and insecurity in the state will pay a heavy price,” the statement read.
However, John Okiyi Kalu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, criticized the government’s position. He argued that insecurity in the state should not be politicized but rather addressed through actionable measures.
The attack has heightened tensions in the state, with citizens calling for swift action to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents and security personnel alike.
A yet-to-be-identified labourer was reportedly shot dead on Wednesday, while three others sustained critical injuries, during an altercation involving the Crack Squad of the Ebonyi State Police Command at Ugwuechara Junction in Abakaliki.
Witnesses say the incident began when members of the Crack Squad stopped a motorcycle rider, accusing him of fraud and attempting to seize his motorcycle.
The rider reportedly identified himself as a member of the military but was allegedly assaulted by the operatives.
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An eyewitness recounted, “As the policemen removed his cap and started hitting him with their guns, the bike man tried to resist them, possibly to snatch one of their guns.
“One of the team opened fire, which killed one of the labour seekers, who usually gather at the junction to look for daily jobs. Three persons were wounded and were rushed to the hospital.”
The deceased, a labourer waiting for work at the junction, was struck by the gunfire. Among the injured are a young apprentice at a barbershop and a female passer-by.
Witnesses say the police operatives took the body of the deceased and the motorcycle rider to their station after the incident.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
However, Obinna Mbam, the Special Assistant on Internal Security to Governor Francis Nwifuru, confirmed the incident.
“Normalcy has returned to the area,” Mr. Mbam said. “The state government will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Ebonyi State, who have raised concerns about the increasing cases of police brutality, extortion, and indiscriminate arrests.
Many residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the Crack Squad, which was established as part of police reforms following the disbandment of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed criminal charges against former Nigerian senator Andy Uba and two others, accusing them of defrauding a complainant, George Uboh, of N400 million.
The charges, which include two counts, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Uba, who represented Anambra South in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, along with Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu, is alleged to have conspired with Hajiya Fatima, who remains at large, to defraud Uboh in 2022.
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According to the charges, the accused individuals falsely claimed they could secure the appointment of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone who could pay N400 million.
“The accused persons collected the N400 million from Mr. Uboh and converted it into their personal use,” the police said, describing the actions as a violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act of 2006.
The police also revealed that six witnesses would testify against the accused parties.
The case was officially filed on 10 October 2023 by Abdulrashid Sidi from the Police Legal/Prosecution Section.
During a hearing on 13 November, the prosecution informed the court that the defendants had been evading the service of court documents despite being granted administrative bail.
“The defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order, which had prevented the police from bringing them to court,” said M.L. Anthony, a lawyer for the prosecution.
“It was only after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.”
The trial, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was adjourned until 18 February 2025.
This delay allows time for the defendants to appear in court and take their plea, following the prosecution’s efforts to ensure they are properly served with legal documents.
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