Authorities
of the Bayelsa State Police Command has dragged Four Staff of the
United Bank For Africa before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa
over alleged illegal diversion of the sum of N33.7million being
compensation ordered to be remitted by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company
(NAOC) following the ruling on oil spillage damages at Azuzuama
Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the State.
According
to the Police, the order of the Court violated through the diversion of
fund was a Garnishee Order Absolute which was made against the bank and
Agip to pay the ordered N33.7 million to the Court and failure of which
the judgment creditors levy execution.
The
Four staff, identified as Mr. Ndubuisi Ogu,42 years, John Iyinbo,58
years, Mr. Iheaka Onuoha,43 years and Okwesili Ugochukwu, who is alleged
to be at large and the Bank, the United Bank of Africa (UBA), were
dragged before the Court on a Five count Charges of conspiracy, fraud,
theft and unlawful diversion of fund.
According
to the charge sheet with suit numbered FHC/YNG/46/2016 and prepared by
the Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police, F.N Agwu, the four
accused staff and the bank were alleged to have conspire among
themselves to defeat the execution of an order of the Court and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 518 of the
criminal code Act, Cap.C38,laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.
“That at about 6pm
on same day, the accused did unlawfully by false pretences and with
intent to defraud caused the reversal of N33, 699,450.00 already
credited to the bank account of the registrar of the Federal High Court,
Yenagoa domicile at Fidelity Account Number 60200007721 and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the
Criminal Code. “
“ That on the same date and at about 5.46pm,
the accused with intent to defraud sent electronic message to the
Central Clearing Group stating that there is an existing order of
interlocutory injunction from the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers
State restraining your bank(UBA) from paying the issued Manager’s
cheques, an information which was false and caused unlawful reversal of
the sum of N33.699 million credited to the account of the registrar,
thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section
14(2) of the Cyber crime(prohibition, prevention)Act,2015’.
Barr.
Kelvin Ezinna Ejelonu, the Counsel to the Azuzuama Community, described
the suit filed against the bankers as “justified” and that the case
will liberate the benefitting community from the unbridled oppression,
suppression and downright wickedness of an Oil company, Agip to the host
community with the alleged aid of their bankers and Police officer
attached to the Legal Department of the Force headquarters in Abuja.
Ejelonu,
noted that though missing N33.7million compensation money was ordered
to be paid to the affected indigenes of Azuzuama community due
to
the negative impact of the multiple oil spill between 2004 and 2006,
“instead of Agip to pay compensation as ordered, they connive with some
persons and took the money of which they said money did not reach any of
those affected by the spill till date.”
Barr.
Ejelonu also revealed that the affected community has petitioned the
Commissioner of Police, Legal, Force Headquarter, Abuja, Umar Surajudeen
to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission
over alleged culpability in the alleged case of cyber crime and fraud
brought against the accused bankers.
Leadership
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