The managing director of Parliament Communication Network Limited, Gowon Usman Egbunu, was today remanded in the facility of Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS, by a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged N170 million fraud.
Justice Musa Kakaki, issued the remand order against Gowon, after he pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, fraudulent conversion of funds, money laundering, forgery, and the uttering of forged documents made against him by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos.
Gowon was arraigned before the court alongside his company, Parliament Communication Network Limited, in a six-count amended charge marked FHC/L/66C/2026.
According to the prosecutor, Barrister Chukwu Agwu, the defendant allegedly conspired with others who are currently at large to defraud Kingnazzy Global Limited of not less than N170 million in 2021.
He was alleged to have obtained the N170 million through his multiple bank accounts domiciled in Access Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc.
Agwu had told the court that the defendant collected the money from Kingnazzy Global Limited, represented by its Managing Director, Kamar Adeyemi, under the pretext of allocating three hectares of land for development. Investigators allege that the representation made to the complainant was false and was used to induce payment.
It was further alleged that the funds were transferred through several accounts linked to the defendant and his company, including accounts with Access Bank and Zenith Bank.
PSFU claimed the transactions were part of a scheme to fraudulently divert and convert the funds for personal use.
He was also alleged to have forged an “Offer of Terms of Grant/Conveyance of Approval” with reference number 003021 purportedly issued by the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside a survey plan, which were allegedly presented to the victims as proof that the land had been legitimately approved for development.
He was further alleged to have used the forged documents to convince the victim to release the N170 million for the development project, while knowingly fully well that the documents were not genuine, thereby committing the offence of uttering forged documents.
The offences according to the prosecutor are contrary contrary to provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended), and the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him and asked for trial date.
The defendant’s lawyer pleaded with the court for a short date for hearing of his client’s bail application.
Consequently, Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter to March 19, for hearing of the defendant’s bail application. While ordered that the defendant be remanded in the NCOS’ custody.
Meanwhile, the defendant was sometimes in 2021, charged before an Abuja High Court alongside three others over alleged N120 million fraud, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
