N2.5B Fraud: Court docks Pinnacle Chairman, adjourns to March 12, 2019

When the case was mentioned, the prosecution Counsel made an application to substitute the charges in the matter. After a brief argument by Mr Alex Izinyon (SAN), counsel to the defendant, the court admitted the substituted charges. The Prosecution counsel also informed the court that it has been difficult serving the charges on the accused persons – Ishaaq Moddibo Kawu and Lucky Omoluwa. The court ruled that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused be served within 48 hours.

The matter was adjourned to March 12, 2019, for arraignment of the accused persons.

It will be recalled that in 2018, the ICPC preferred a case of fraud and money laundering against the DG of NBC – Mal Kawu, chairman of  of Pinnacle Communitions, Mr Lucky Omoluwa, and the managing director of the company, Mr. Dipo Onifade. They were accused of laundering the sum of N2.5B from the NBC.

It remains to be seen if with the charges and arraignment of Mr. Kawu will remain at his post or be suspended, since it is possible for him not only to have the opportunity to tamper with evidence vital to the trial, but also have the ability to intimidate witnesses, some of whom are currently NBC staff.  It is also not clear however, if the Hon Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who allegedly approved the illegal N2.5 payment to Pinnacle Communications will also be arraigned.

After the court hearing today, efforts by journalists to speak with the MD of Pinnacle Communications was not successful as he avoided the media.