…Ex-Circulation Manager Bags 3 Years
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a former Chief
Accountant of Vanguard Newspapers, Bhadmus Abiodun, to seven years
imprisonment for fraud. He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, forgery
and stealing of about N3.1million belonging to his employer.
The court also sentenced former circulation representative of Vanguard
newspaper, Benin Office, Joseph Ejike Ezeobi, to three years
imprisonment over his involvement in stealing and forgery.
In his judgment, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye held that the prosecution has
proved its case against Abiodun and Ezeobi beyond reasonable doubt and
sentenced them to various prison terms without an option of fines.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, informed the court that Abiodun
committed the offence in collaboration with the Vanguard Media
Representative for Onitsha, Samuel Ogbole between January 9, 2006 and
January 4, 2008.
But Ogbole was said to have absconded when bail was granted to the duo
by the court after their arraignment. He is still at large.
Mohammed further informed the court that the convict and his accomplice
had on various dates, illegally converted N400, 000, N2.5million and
N120, 000 belonging to the complainant, Vanguard.
Mohammed said, “On January 16, 2007, the duo conspired to and forged a
Wema Bank deposit slip with No. 7125699 purporting to be the value of
N225, 165.
“On May 30, 2007, the men conspired and forge a Wema Bank deposit slip
with No. 3270712 purporting to be the value of N256, 850”.
According to Mohammed, the offences are contrary to Sections 390 (7),
467 (2)(i) and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2003.
Justice Ipaye held that the money Biodun and Ogbole kept for themselves
belongs to Vanguard newspaper.
The judge said, “The defendant is hereby sentenced to seven years in
prison on count one. He is sentenced to seven years in prison each for
counts two to eight.”
The judge however said that the prison terms for counts two to eight are
to run concurrently.