EFCC Drags CEO To Court Over $100m Fraud

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dragged the  Group Managing Director (GMD) of an oil marketing firm, Triumph Oil and Gas Madagascar Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud to court over an attempt to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of $100million.

Mahmud. who was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a six-count charge, marked: CR/1041/2020 was also accused of forging the signatures of the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Special Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf and the GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) noted that Mahmud, who allegedly claimed to be a deputy governor in CBN, was said to have taken forged documents to the apex bank to demand the payment of $100million  for the contract awarded by the CBN to his firm.

Also, the GMD said that his firm was engaged to monitor and supervise major Federal Government’s infrastructure projects, forfeited assets and government businesses for which the CBN approved the payment of the $100million.

After a confrontation,  the CBN was said to have referred the case to the EFCC for investigation, following which the commission discovered that not only was his firm not registered, the documents he paraded were of doubtful origin.

However, Mahmud pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Halilu Yusuf on Monday, saying he should returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre as he failed to meet the bail conditions.

When the case was mentioned on Monday, the prosecuting lawyer, Benjami Manji said that the case was for trial and that he was ready and has his witness in court.

Defence lawyer, J. K. Kolawole pleaded for time to enable him to familiarise himself with the case.

Mahmud. who was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a six-count charge, marked: CR/1041/2020 was also accused of forging the signatures of the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Special Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf and the GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) noted that Mahmud, who allegedly claimed to be a deputy governor in CBN, was said to have taken forged documents to the apex bank to demand the payment of $100million for the contract awarded by the CBN to his firm.

Also, the GMD said that his firm was engaged to monitor and supervise major Federal Government’s infrastructure projects, forfeited assets and government businesses for which the CBN approved the payment of the $100million.

After a confrontation, the CBN was said to have referred the case to the EFCC for investigation, following which the commission discovered that not only was his firm not registered, the documents he paraded were of doubtful origin.

However, Mahmud pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Halilu Yusuf on Monday, saying he should returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre as he failed to meet the bail conditions.

When the case was mentioned on Monday, the prosecuting lawyer, Benjami Manji said that the case was for trial and that he was ready and has his witness in court.

Defence lawyer, J. K. Kolawole pleaded for time to enable him to familiarise himself with the case.

– Parrot
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