Federal government through the Department of State Security (DSS) has charged a logistics firm, Jokapat Advanced Logistics & Trade Operation Centre Limited, it’s Managing Director, Patrick Ocheme Michael and four others, before a Lagos Federal High Court, over for alleged conspiracy and stealing of equipments meant for the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
Others charged before the court presided by Justice Abimbola Awogboro were; Ashiru Gbolahan Samuel; Kayode Ayebanji; Vincent Sammy; Mutiu Lawal (A.K.A. Are) and Ahmed Olanrewaju (a.k.a. Owoegbe).
The defendants’ arraignment was however stalled on Thursday, due to the absence of the company’s Managing Director, Patrick Ocheme Michael and the fourth defendant, Kayode Ayebanji.
The prosecutor, Mrs. O. O. Fakolujo, told the court that the second defendant, who is the first defendant’s Managing Director, was on his way to court. But a lawyer from the Department, Mr. M. O. Bajela, told the court that the fourth defendant, Kayode Oyebanji, was in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services, (NCoS) and that the Services refused to release him due to non-availability of production warrant.
He urged the court to issue the production warrant, so that he could be released from the custody.
Consequently, Justice Awogboro has adjourned till May 30, for the defendants’ arraignment.
The logistics firm, it’s Managing Director and others, according to the prosecution, sometime in October, 2021, at 2nd Rainbow, along Mile 2, Oshodi Express Road, Lagos, conspired among themselves and diversion of two 1x20FT containers with Nos: MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, containing disassembled steel Electricity transmission towers for National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
The defendants were accused of diverting a truck with registration number XLE-127-XA, carrying the Steel Electricity Transmission Towers worth over N200 million, from 2nd Rainbow, along Mile 2, Oshodi Express Road, to Owode Onirin, Mile 12, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, where the equipments were sold to some people.
The prosecution further informed the court that the dou of Mutiu Lawal, a.k.a. Are and Ahmed Olanrewaju Azeez, a.k.a Owoegbe and others now at large, sometime in October, 2021, at Owode Onirin, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, conspired among themselves and received the said equipments in the two 1x20FT containers numbered MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, containing piecesed and disassembled electricity transmission towers meant for National Integrated power project (NIPP).
The offences according to the prosecution contravened sections 516, 390(4) and 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As Amended).
Parts of the charges against the defendants read: “That you, Jokapat Advaned Logistics & TradE Operation Centre Ltd, Patrick Ocheme Michael (The managing Director of Jokapat Advanced Logistics & Trade Operation Centre Ltd), Ashiru Gbolahan Samuel, Kayode Oyebanji, Nurudeen Olanrewaju Abiola, Vincent Sammy and others (now at large), sometime in October, 2021, at 2nd Rainbow, along Mile 2, Oshodi Express Road, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: stealing by diversion of two (2) 1x20FT containers with Nos: MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, worth over one hundred million (N100M), each containing disassembled steel Electricity transmission towers for National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Procured by the Federal Government of Nigeria and meant for Ikom and Obudu site in Cross River State, same being conveyed by a truck with Registration No. XLE-127-XA., to Owode Onirin, Mile 12, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, where it was sold to some people and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As Amended).
“That you, Mutiu Lawal (a.k.a: Are), Ahmed Olanrenwaju Azeez (a.k.a. Owoegbe) and ‘others (at large), sometime in October, 2021, at Owode Onirin, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos state, within the jurisdiction of this-Honourable court, did commit a felony, to wit: Receiving stolen property, namely: Piecesed and disassembled steal electricity transmission towers for National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), contained in two 1X20FT containers with Nos: MEDU 6336802 and MEDU 6513169, worth over one hundred million naira (N100m) and meant for Ikom and Obudu site in Cross River State, same being conveyed by a truck with Registration No. XLE-127-XA, knowing the same to have been stolen and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As Amended).”
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