Date Published: 10/05/09

N161 million fraud: EFCC files fresh charges against Boni Haruna, 3 others
…Arraigns businessman, others over N300million fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed 28 amended charges against the former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna and three others.
The three other accused persons are Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, John Babani Elias who is now at large and Al-Akim Investment Nigeria Limited.

When the matter came up today, Monday October 5, 2009 at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja both the first and second accused persons were in court while the third accused was absent.

Counsel to EFCC, O. Anozie, who stood in for Paul Erokoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, regretted that the Commission has not been able to serve the 3 rd  and 4 th accused persons with the amended charges due to their non-availability and therefore asked the court to fix a new date for the accused persons to take their pleas. “The case came up for taking of plea by the accused persons but it could not go on because the 3 rd and 4 th accused persons have not been served with the amended charges. The Commission has found it hard to locate them. Hopefully they will be served within the next few days,” he said.

The presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello, therefore adjourned till November 12, 2009 for the accused persons to take their plea even as he ordered that Boni Haruna and Mohammed Inuwa Bassi should continue to enjoy their bail.

Before the latest development, Boni Haruna and Mohammed Inuwa Bassi were first arraigned by the EFCC on Tuesday August 5, 2008 on a 21- count charge of money laundering and stealing. They were later admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million, one surety each in like sum who must be a responsible citizen and provide evidence of ownership of property in Abuja worth that sum. The court also ordered that the accused persons should deposit all their travelling documents including their international passport with the court.

In a related development, the  Commission,also on Monday  arraigned one Mr. Ike Neliaku, the Director of A.B.C Shelter Limited, and three others before an FCT High court . The three others are Miss Orji Uzoamaka, Mr. Wale Arogundade and Mr. Ben Ifeanyi Okoye all at large. They were arraigned on a five count charge of forgery ,conspiracy, advance fee fraud and theft of over N3000million before Justice H.O.I Baba-Useni of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja .

Mr. Neliaku and his co-accused were said to have around 24 th April 2008 presented a letter of offer to Crown Realities PLC ,Lagos for the sale of a non existing plot of land at Garki  11, Abuja. The said land measuring about 1.335 hectares had a forged statutory right of occupancy.

One of the counts in the charge reads thus: “That you  Mr. Ike Neliaku ‘M’ being a director  of ABC Shelters Ltd, Miss Orji Uzoamaka  (now at large) Mr. Wale Arogundade and Mr. Ben Ifeanyi Okoye( now at large) sometimes between 24 th April 2008 within the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of N300 million from Crown Realities PLC of  No 34 Lalupon Close ,off Keffi Street, SW Ikoyi, Lagos by presenting a letter of offer for the sale of plot 1647 Cadastral Zone A03,Garki 11,Abuja which is covered by an offer of statutory Right of Occupancy dated 8 th May,2008 measuring about 1335 hectares ,under the false pretence that you have genuine title to the said plot which you knew to be false  and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (b) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud  related Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act. 

”That you obtained money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96(1) of the penal code and punishable under section 97(1) of the penal code cap. 359 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990”.

Neliaku whose counsel did not turn up for the case pleaded innocent to the five charges prompting the prosecution counsel Sir Steve Odiase to pray for an adjournment and an accelerated hearing of the case. “In the circumstances, my lord, we shall pray for a date to present our case against the accused. He was earlier granted bail by EFCC but was re-invited when some fresh facts emerged. We therefore ask that now he be remanded in prison custody,”

The accused seeing his precarious position quickly pleaded that he be remanded in EFCC custody and also be given time to contact his counsel. The presiding judge however stressed that the absence of the accused person’s counsel has jeopardized his bail application which would have been heard. He thereafter ordered him to be reminded in Kuje prison.

The case has been adjourned till October 30, for hearing.