The
Federal Government has taken over the N2.5billion fraud case filed against the
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert
Wigwe by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force.
The
SFU had charged Wigwe, his
bank and two others on a five-count criminal charge
before an Ogun State High Court in Sagamu over the alleged monumental fraud.
An
impeccable source who confided in Makeitglobal.biz confirmed
that the Federal Government has taken over the case through the Directorate of
Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
According
to the source, “The state of the matter right now is that it has been taken
over by the DPP of the Federal Ministry of Justice. They will review the case
and take appropriate action. That is the state of the matter for now.”
Aside
Wigwe and Access Bank Plc, others charged before the court included 41-year-old
Alawode Oluseye and Bayo Adesina before Justice N.I. Agbelu of the Ogun State
High Court in Sagamu.
The
allegations border on conspiracy, fraudulent disposal of trust property,
fraudulent conversion, stealing and false representation.
In
the charge marked HCS/010/19, SFU alleged that the Access Bank boss and others,
sometime in June 2017, at the premises on Metal Africa Steel Products Limited,
Kilometre 16, Ikorodu/Sagamu road, Ewe Jagun, Ogun State, conspired among
themselves to have unlawfully effected the sale of 23,754.413 metric tonnes of
steel billets, belonging to BMCE Bank International Plc for N2,572,500 billion
to Africa Steel Products Limited.
Wigwe
and other defendants were also alleged to have obtained the sum of N2,572,500
billion, from Africa Steel Mills Limited by false representation that they were
the owners of the said steel billets.
SFU
also alleged that Wigwe and other defendants, in 2017, forged bill of lading
numbers: MJINLOS150007’1A’; MJINLOS150007 ‘1B’; MJINLOS150007 ‘1C’;
MJINLOS150007 ‘2A’; MJINLOS150007’2B’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2C’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2C’;
MJINLOS150007 ‘2D’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2E’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2F’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2G’;
MJINLOS150007 ‘2H’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2I’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2J’; MJINLOS150007 ‘2k’;
MJINLOS150007’2L’ andMJINLOS150007’2M’, which they claimed were issued on
January 9, 2016.
The
offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. E. Jackson, a Chief Superintendent
of Police (CSP) are contrary to and punishable under Sections 518(6), 434,
383(1)(f) and 390(9), 516 and 464 and 467 of the criminal Code of Ogun State of
Nigeria, 2006.
The
offence is also said to have contravened Section 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
See
the charges as exactly framed below:
Statement
of Offence (1st Count): Conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, to wit: an
unlawful sale of Steel Billets property of BMCE Bank International Plc,
contrary to Section 518 (6) of the Criminal Code of Ogun State of Nigeria,
2006.
Particulars
of Offence: That you Herbert Wigwe ‘M’, Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina ‘M’
and Access Bank Plc, on 22 day of June, 2017, at the premises at Met Africa
Steel Products Limited, Km 16, Ikorodu-Sagamu Road, Ewe Jagun, Ogun State
within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to
effect unlawful purpose to wit: the unlawful and unauthorised sale of 754.413
metric tonnes of steel billets, property of BMCE Bank International Plc without
its permission or consent.
Statement
of Offence (2nd Count): Fraudulent Disposal of Trust Property, contrary to
Section 434 of the Criminal of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
Particulars
of Offence: That you Herbert Wigwe ‘M’, Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, ‘M’
and Access Bank Plc on 22nd day of June, 2017, at the premises of African Steel
Products Limited, Km 16, Ikorodu/Sagamu Road, Jagun, Ogun State, within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud converted
23,754.413 metric tonnes of steel billets property of BMCE Bank International
Plc, to your own use and unlawfully sold same without the authority of BMCE
International Bank Plc.
Statement
of 0ffence (3rd Count): Stealing of Money, contrary to Sections 383 (1)(f) and
390 (9) of the Criminal Code of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2005.
Particulars
of Offence: That you Herbert Wigwe, ‘M’, Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, and
Access Bank Plc, sometimes in June 2017, in Ogun State, within the jurisdiction
of this honourable court, unlawfully sold 23, 754.413 metric tonnes of steel
billets, property of BMCE Bank International Plc to African Steel Mills Nigeria
Limited for N2,572,500,000.00 and fraudulently converted the money to your own
use and benefit.
Statements
of offence (4th Count): Conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: stealing of
23,754.413 metric tonnes of Steel Billets, property of BMCE Bank International
Plc, contrary to Section 516 the Criminal Code of Ogun State, 2006.
Particulars
of Offence: That you Herbert Wigwe, ‘M’ Alawode Oluseye ‘M’, Bayo Adesina, and
Access Bank Plc, between 2016 and 2017, at Ewe Jagun, Ogun State, Within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to sell
23,754.41 metric tonnes of steel billets property of BMCE Bank International
Plc.
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