Crime
Court Rejects Bid By Briton, Indians To Prevent Arrest, Extradition In Ecobank Fraud
A Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected attempts by three foreign nationals to overturn a bench warrant issued for their arrest and extradition on charges related to a $42.48 million fraud.
The defendants—Indian nationals Prem Garg and Devashish Garg, and Briton Marcus Wade, chairman of Wilben Trade Limited—are accused of defrauding Ecobank Plc.
The allegations stem from a petition filed by Ecobank on October 7, 2022, with the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), claiming the trio, along with their companies Wilben Trade Limited in Dubai and Agrico Agbe Limited, secured a $42.48 million loan under false pretenses.
Read Also: Barcelona Suffers First Gamper Trophy Loss In 12 Years
The loan, granted in 2015, was intended for the importation of rice, but according to the charges brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the defendants allegedly failed to deliver on their commitments, prompting legal action.
The case, marked FHC/L/562C/2022, includes multiple counts of fraud against the defendants, who have yet to appear in court despite the bank’s efforts to recover the funds.
The charge reads, “That you, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg both of Iand ndian nationality, Agrico Agbe Limited (a company registered in Nigeria), Wilben Trade Limited, Dubai (a company registered in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai), Marcus Wade (Chairman of Wilben Trade Ltd, Dubai) of British nationality, sometime in the month of May and September, 2015 at Ecobank Plc, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired between yourselves to commit an offence thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 422 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg both of Indian nationality, Agrico Agbe Limited (a company registered in Nigeria), Wilben Trade Limited, Dubai (a company registered in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai), Marcus Wade (Chairman of Wilben Trade Ltd, Dubai) of British nationality, sometime in the month of May and September, 2015 at Eco Bank Plc. Lagos thin the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired between yourselves to commit an offence to wit: Cheating in that you caused Ecobank Plc to deliver monies to the tune of $42,485,900 which was intended by contract for the purchase and import into Nigeria India Parboiled rice but never utilised the sum of money for the contract and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap, C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Despite the charges pending against them, the defendants did not show up in court to enter their pleas prompting the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to seek a bench warrant and extradition order.
In response, the AGF’s lawyer, Pius Akutah, filed an application for these orders, which was granted by presiding judge Akintayo Aluko in November 2023.
However, the defendants, represented by lawyers Dele Belgore and Dada Awosika, subsequently filed motions to overturn the arrest and extradition orders.
This move was contested by the AGF’s counsel, Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, who argued against quashing the orders.
Bode-Ayeni assumed responsibility for the case after Pius Akutah, who is now the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, transitioned from the role.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Judge Akintayo Aluko stated that proceedings before a magistrate court in Delhi, India, cannot serve as a “stay” in the ongoing criminal proceedings in Nigeria. He emphasized that the case is not solely a criminal matter but a proceeding under the jurisdiction of a Nigerian court as established by the Nigerian Constitution.
Additionally, Judge Aluko clarified that an order for maintaining the status quo issued by another court does not override the criminal charges pending in his court.
Judge Akintayo Aluko ruled that the applications filed by the defendants “lack merit” and subsequently dismissed both motions. The judge then adjourned the case to October 24 for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, on August 7, a statement circulated online claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was investigating Ecobank over allegations of abusive proceedings and communications involving Wilben Trade Limited and Marcus Wade.
However, the CBN has denied any investigation into Ecobank.
Crime
Court Orders Arrest Of Dana Air CEO In N1.3bn Fraud Case
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
READ MORE: Ibadan Man On Why He Used 76 Women For Ritual, Ate Others
Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
Crime
Gunmen Attack Police Facility In Owerrinta, Female Detainee Killed
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
READ MORE: Edo Deputy Gov, Omobayo Ordered To Court Over Refusal To Vacate Office
State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.
Crime
Bobrisky Flees Nigeria Amid Legal Turmoil
Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, a controversial figure in Nigeria’s social media landscape, has reportedly departed the country just days after being released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While the destination of his flight remains undisclosed, Bobrisky took to Instagram on Monday morning to boast about his lavish travel arrangements, sharing videos that highlighted his purchase of a first-class ticket, claiming, “This girl bought a first-class ticket three times; that’s over 30 million naira. Raise the bar for this girl.”
READ ALSO: Bobrisky Granted Bail After Denying N15m Bribe Voicenote Claim
In his posts, he humorously commented on the disfigurement of his passport photo, saying, “That passport disfigured my picture,” showcasing his characteristic flamboyance.
Bobrisky’s sudden exit from Nigeria follows a turbulent week marked by a series of dramatic events.
Reports indicate that on Thursday night, he was removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam while trying to travel to London.
He alleged that he sustained injuries during the altercation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and later recounted the incident to his followers on social media.
Following this disruption, Bobrisky was taken to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where he faced questioning over allegations that he attempted to bribe officials with 15 million naira to dismiss money laundering charges against him.
He was released on bail on Saturday after denying the bribery claims during his interrogation.
Bobrisky’s legal troubles began earlier this year when he was sentenced to six months in prison for naira abuse.
Initially held at Kirikiri Prison, reports later emerged that he spent only three weeks in confinement before being discreetly relocated to a private location.
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky intensified in September, when social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, leaked an audio recording allegedly featuring Bobrisky discussing the bribery of EFCC officials to drop the charges against him.