Oil Coy, 4 Persons Charged For Forging Zenith Bank Documents To Defraud UBA of N299.8m

Oil Coy, 4 Persons Charged For Forging Zenith Bank Documents To Defraud To UBA of N299.8m

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has filed a criminal charge before a Federal High Court, Lagos, against an oil company, OBD Petroleum Limited and four other person for alleged forging of a Zenith Bank’s Statement of account to defraud United Bank for Africa (UBA) of the sum of N299.860 million. 

The four persons charged alongside the petroleum company are: Obinna Michael Umeanor; Samson Egbuwoku; Ilolo Ogho Gift and Isaac Okorodudu.

The defendants were charged before Justice Sailu Saidu led-court, on offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, forgery and fraud.

AGF states in an amended charge marked FHC/L/281c/2016, that the Oil company and other defendants committed the offences sometimes in October 2014.

In the charge, AGF alleged that the oil company and Obinna Michael Umeanor, by false pretence obtained the sum of N160 million from UBA, under the pretence that the money will be uses to supply 1,100,000 liters of Automated Gasoline Oil (AGO) popularly called diesel to a limited liability company, Lastan Energy Limited.

The charge also states that the Oil company, Obinna, Isaac Okorodudu, Ilolo Ogho Gift and others now at large, conspired among themselves and obtained the sum of N139, 860 million from UBA, with the pretence that the money will be used to supply diesel to the said limited liability company.

The charge further stated that to perpetrate the alleged fraud, Obinna had forged a Zenith Bank statement of account number 1013015544 belonging to OBD Petroleum Limited, while Isaac Okorodudu, Ilolo Ogho Gift and Samson Egbuwoke forged a Certificate Of Occupancy (COfO) numbered 21/21/1991AR, registered in the name of Rotimi Olawoye, of a property located at Lekki Peninsular, Plot 6, Block B2, Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.
The offences according to the AGF are contrary to 1(1)(a), 8(a), 18(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The offences also contravened section 2(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap M17, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and section 18(a) and 15(2) of the money laundering Act, 2015.

At the scheduled arraignment of the defendants on the amended charge, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, a counsel from the AGF’s office, asked court for a short adjournment, to enable all the defendants present in court to take their plea.

She also informed the court of AGF’ intention to withdraw that charge against the fourth defendant, who she said would be used as prosecution witness during the trial of the charge against the defendant.

The defendants who were represented by O. J. Ozioko; Sam Ogungbamila and Joseph Okobieme, did not oppose the adjournment sought by the prosecutor.

Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu, adjourned the matter to March 10, 2020, for arraignment of the defendants.

Charges against the defendants reads: “That you OBD Petroleum Ltd and Obinna Michael Umeanor ‘m’ on or about October 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did obtain the sum of N160, 000, 000.00 (One hundred and Sixty million naira) from United Bank of Africa by false pretence and with intent to defraud on the pretext that the money would be used to supply 1,100,000 liters of AGO to Lastan Energy Ltd a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committee an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act. 

“That you OBD Petroleum Ltd, Obinna Michael Umeanor ’m’, lsaac Okorodudu, Ilolo Ogho Gift and others at large an or about October 2014, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did conspire with one another to obtain the sum of N139,860,000.00 (One hundred and thirty nine million eight hundred and sixty thousand naira) from United Bank of Africa (UBA) by false pretence and with intent to defraud on the pretext that the money would be-used to supply 1,100,000 liters of A60 to Lastan Energy Ltd, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 read in conjunction with section 1(3) of the same Act punishable under the same sections of the Act.

“That you Obinna Michael Umeanor ’m’ on or about October 2014 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did forged a Zenith bank statement of Account No. 1013015544 belonging to OBD petroleum Limited with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of United Bank of Africa Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act. 

“That you isaac Okorodudu ’m’, llolo Ogho Gift ‘m’, Samson Egbuwoku ‘m’ and others at large on or about October, 2014 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did forge a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy No. 21/21/1991 AR; Registered in the name:-Rotimi Olawoye which property is situate at Lekki, Peninsular, Plot 6 Block 82 Eti Osa Area of Lagos State Measuring 973.7018 square meters knowing same to be false with intent that it Km be acted upon as genuine and to the prejudice of United Bank of Africa Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act. 

“That you Obinna Michael Umeanor ‘m’, Isaac Okorodudu ‘m, llolo Ogho Gift and others at large on or about October 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did conspire with one another to indirectly convert the sum of N139,860,000.00 (One hundred and thirty nine million, Eight hundred and sixty thousand Naira) property of United Bank of Africa Plc which you reasonably knew formed part of the fraudulent act, to wit: unlawful enrichment and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the money Laundering Act, 2015 read in conjunction with section 15 (2) (a) of the same Act and punishable under the same sections Act”.