N740m Fraud: Court issues bench warrant against fleeing Dangote Industries’ employee

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has Issued warrant against one Emmanuel Oku, an employee of Dangote Industries Limited, charged before the court, for allegedly defrauded the company of the sum of N739, 735, 248 million.

Justice Dipeolu issued the Bench warrant against Oku, on Friday, sequel to the application made by the prosecutor, Barrister M. Y. Bello, who informed the court that Oku has failed to submit himself for trial, after he was admitted to bail.

The fleeing defendant and others who are employees of Dangote Industries and another firm, Arigen Integrated Limited, were charged before the court by the Operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.

Others charged alongside the fleeing man, Oku on 11 counts charge are: Ikechukwu Kingsley Obit, Chigozie Chrisogonus Osukwu, Ukaegbu Rex Chukwuma, Umeh Johnpaul Ugochukwu, Akamadu Emmanuella (f), Zango Mohammed Umar, Shaibu Aichael, Luck Otoide and Mmaduabushi Okezuoni.

Oku and others were charged on offences bothering on alleged conspiracy and fraudulently receiving money from Dangote Transporters contracted to transport Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from firm’s deport to Ibese and Obajana plants.

Specifically, all the defendants were alleged to have committed a fraud of about N19 billion against Dangote Industries Limited between January 2022 and June 2023.

When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, for the defendants’ re-arraignment, the trial judge, Justice Dipeolu observed the defendants are not complete and hence the arraignment of the defendants was stalled.

Following the development, the prosecutor, Barrister Bello, asked the court for a short adjournment and urged the court to issue a Bench Warrant against the seventh defendant, Emmanuel Oku.

Based on the prosecutor’s request, Justice Dipeolu ordered that a Bench Warrant be issued against the fleeing defendant, Emmanuel Oku, while adjourned the matter to February 25 and 27, for the defendants’ arraignment and continuation of trial

The 11 counts charge against the defendants read: “That you Ikechukwu Kingsley Obi ‘M’, Chigozie Chrisogonus Osukwu ‘M’, Ukaegbu Rex Chukwuma ‘M’, Umeh Johnpaul Ugochukwu ‘M’, Akamadu Emmanuella ‘F’, Zango Mohammed “Umar ‘M’, Emmanuel Oku ‘M’, Shaibu Michael ‘M’, Lucky Otoide ‘M’, Mmaduabuchi Okezuonu and Others at Large sometimes in 2022, did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: Fraudulently receiving ‘money from Dangote Transporters contracted to haul Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from Dangote Deport to Ibese and Obajana Plants, which you ought to know formed part of proceeds of crime thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 202 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

“That you Ikechukwu Kingsley Obi ‘M’ between June 2022 and December 2022, at Ibese Ogun State, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while in employment of Arigen Integrated Limited, a company sub contracted to inspect accurate delivery of products to Dangote Industries Limited with intent to defraud, did receive monetary transfers into your First Bank account number 3022181768 and other private.bank accounts at various times a total sum of Seventeen Million five Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand Naira (N85, 895, 000.00) from Dangote Transporters, contracted by the company to convey Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from Dangote Deports to Dangote Plants, funds which you knew or ought to have known formed part of proceeds of crime to influence you to carry out unlawful act in your employment, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“That you Chigozie Chrisogonus Osukwu ‘M’ between January, 2022 and June 2023 at Lagos State, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while in employment of Arigen Integrated Limited, a company sub contracted to inspect accurate delivery of product of Dangote Industries Limited, with intent to defraud, did receive monetary transfers into your Zenith bank account number 2377562240 and Access bank account number 0030758807, at various times a total sum of Eighty Eight Million, Seventy-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Five Naira (N88, 075, 375, 00) from Dangote Transporters contracted by the company to haul Automotive Gasoline Oil(AGO) from Dangote Depots to Dangote Plants, funds which you knew or ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of crime to influence you to carry out unlawful act in your employment thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (b) Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act

“That you Ukaegbu Rex Chukwuma M, between November, 2022 and September 2023, at Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while in employment of Arigen Integrated Limited, a company sub contracted to inspect accurate delivery of products to Dangote Industries Limited, with intent to defraud, did receive monetary transfers into your Zenith account number 2377562240 and Access bank account 0030758807 at various times a total sum of Seventy Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira (N74, 575, 000. 00) from Okezuonu Maduabuchi, Isreal Ejima Christopher and Nzelu Emmnauel, all staff of Argen Integrated Limited, as your share of proceed of Fraudulent diversion of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) property of Dangote Industries Limited thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“That you Umeh Johnpaul Ugochukwu ‘M’ between September 2022 and June 2023, at Lagos State, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while in employment of Arigen Intergrated Limited, a company sub contracted to inspect accurate delivery of product of Dangote Industries Limited, with intent to defraud, did receive monetary transfers into your United Bank For Africa account number 2254333516 and other private bank accounts, at various times a total sum of Seventeen Million, Five Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand Naira (N17, 566, 000.00) from Chigozie Osukwu (2nd Defendant) and Dangote Transporters, contracted by the company to covey Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) from Dangote depots to Dangote plants finds which you know or ought to known formed part of proceeds of crime to influence you to carry out unlawful act in your employment, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.