Ridwan Adebayo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) has arraigned a businessman, Mohammed Babagana Alkali, for allegedly stealing N45 million.
The suspect was brought before an Ikeja Special Offences Court alongside his companies, The Million Oil and Gas Limited and Yanfandi Oil and Gas Limited. Alkali, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was arraigned on a 26-count charge, bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false pretences, retaining stolen property among others, which are contrary to the criminal law of Lagos State.
According to the EFCC prosecutor, Joy Amahian, the defendant allegedly used his two companies to dishonestly convert the sum of N45,340,500.00, belonging of Ken Energy Limited to his own use.
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She further told the court how the defendant used a forged document to perpetrate the fraud.
According to the charges: “Mohammad Babagana Alkali sometimes in 2019 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court knowingly forged a document titled “Purchase Order” with LPO No.00/06/001, dated 27th of June 2019, which he purported to have been issued by Kuramo Industries (Nigeria) Limited”.
The commission further alleged that the defendant sometimes in 2019 in Lagos forged the signature of Kuramo Industries Nigeria Limited in a document titled “Delivery Note” with No 001031 dated and 1st of July 2019, which he purported to have been signed by Kuramo Industries (Nigeria) Limited.
However, following the defendant’s plea of not guilty, the prosecutor urged the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
Justice Dada said, “Accused be remanded in correctional facility, pending commencement of trial,” he ruled.
The matter has been adjourned to the 17th of February 2020 for trial.
