A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja Wednesday granted former
Chevron accountant, Michael Adenuga, bail in the sum of N5 million.
Adenuga is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, over an alleged fraudulent conversion of a landed property
worth N5 billion, Pm News reports.
Commission, EFCC, over an alleged fraudulent conversion of a landed property
worth N5 billion, Pm News reports.
The EFCC alleged that Adenuga and his company, Covenant
Apartment Ltd fraudulently converted a 22.68 hectares of land located in the
Lekki area of Lagos, western Nigeria, which he jointly owned with a Switzerland
company, to his personal use.
Apartment Ltd fraudulently converted a 22.68 hectares of land located in the
Lekki area of Lagos, western Nigeria, which he jointly owned with a Switzerland
company, to his personal use.
The property is valued at N5 billion.
The EFCC also alleged that the defendant forged a Lagos State land sales document alleging
that the said land had been sold to him by the Swiss firm.
that the said land had been sold to him by the Swiss firm.
The commission claimed that the defendant had tendered the
document before its officials at its Lagos office with the intent to deceive
them.
document before its officials at its Lagos office with the intent to deceive
them.
Adenuga pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it
was read to him in the open court.
was read to him in the open court.
Moving his bail application Wednesday, Adenuga’s lawyer, Mr
Ehis Agboga prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms.
Ehis Agboga prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms.
He argued that his client has never been convicted of any
crime in the past and that since the matter was being investigated by the EFCC,
he had always reported before the commission’s office in Lagos.
crime in the past and that since the matter was being investigated by the EFCC,
he had always reported before the commission’s office in Lagos.
Ehis noted that the offence for which his client was being
charged is bailable and that the court has discretion to grant him bail.
charged is bailable and that the court has discretion to grant him bail.
EFCC Counsel, Jamiu Musa, however, opposed the application
arguing that the defendant may not attend his trial if granted bail.
arguing that the defendant may not attend his trial if granted bail.
Presiding Judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, however,
overruled the EFCC counsel’s position and granted the defendant bail in the sum
of N5 million with two sureties.
overruled the EFCC counsel’s position and granted the defendant bail in the sum
of N5 million with two sureties.
The judge directed that the two sureties must be resident in
Lagos with proof of three-year tax payment.
Lagos with proof of three-year tax payment.
The judge further ordered the defendant to deposit his
international passport with the Chief Registrar of the court.
international passport with the Chief Registrar of the court.
She adjourned that matter till 13 and 14 July for trial.
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