Four Emirates Airlines staff have
been arraigned before of a Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged theft of
$1.6 million belonging to a Lagos businessman Prince Chu Ikem Orji.
been arraigned before of a Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged theft of
$1.6 million belonging to a Lagos businessman Prince Chu Ikem Orji.
The accused staff: Abayomi
Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia,
were arraigned alongside Emirates Airlines, Pathfinders International Ltd and
Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Ltd.
Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia,
were arraigned alongside Emirates Airlines, Pathfinders International Ltd and
Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Ltd.
The accused persons were arraigned
on eleven counts charge of stealing, fraud, obtaining money under false
pretence, willful destruction of evidence and failure to report an
international transfer fund.
on eleven counts charge of stealing, fraud, obtaining money under false
pretence, willful destruction of evidence and failure to report an
international transfer fund.
All the accused persons and the
companies pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against them. After the
accused took their pleas, the prosecuting counsel Michael O. S. urged the court
to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending when their bail
applications will be heard.
companies pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against them. After the
accused took their pleas, the prosecuting counsel Michael O. S. urged the court
to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending when their bail
applications will be heard.
However, the defence lawyer, Mr
Awa Kalu (SAN), leading four other lawyers informed the court that the bail
applications of the accused persons have been filed and the prosecution have
been served.
Awa Kalu (SAN), leading four other lawyers informed the court that the bail
applications of the accused persons have been filed and the prosecution have
been served.
He added that the accused persons
have already been granted bail by Justice Abang, when they were initially
arraigned before the court.
have already been granted bail by Justice Abang, when they were initially
arraigned before the court.
Consequently he urged the court to
allow the accused to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them since it
has not been revoked.
allow the accused to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them since it
has not been revoked.
However, the prosecutor insisted
that the accused should be remanded because he has just been served with copies
of the bail applications and he needed time to reply.
that the accused should be remanded because he has just been served with copies
of the bail applications and he needed time to reply.
He further told the court that the
charge before Abang was different from the new amended charge.
charge before Abang was different from the new amended charge.
However, the presiding Judge
Idris, contended that bail is a right of every accused person and not a
privilege as an accused person is presumed innocent until contrary is proven.
Idris, contended that bail is a right of every accused person and not a
privilege as an accused person is presumed innocent until contrary is proven.
Consequently, the court admitted
the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with one surety each. The
surety, must possess landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and that
all the accused persons must deposit their passports with the court’s Deputy
Chief Registrar.
the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with one surety each. The
surety, must possess landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and that
all the accused persons must deposit their passports with the court’s Deputy
Chief Registrar.
The matter has been adjourned till
May 25, for trial to commence.
May 25, for trial to commence.
The accused persons were alleged
to have on the 19th of December 2007, at the Murtala Muhammad International
Airport, Lagos, stole four bags with tag number EK 428682, EK 428683, EK
650162, EK 650161, containing the sum of $1.6million, belonging to Prince Chu
Ikem Orji, on the promise of keeping them intact for onward delivery to him at
Guangzhou, China.
to have on the 19th of December 2007, at the Murtala Muhammad International
Airport, Lagos, stole four bags with tag number EK 428682, EK 428683, EK
650162, EK 650161, containing the sum of $1.6million, belonging to Prince Chu
Ikem Orji, on the promise of keeping them intact for onward delivery to him at
Guangzhou, China.
They were also alleged to have
conspired together to fraudulently defraud the victim of the four bags
containing the said amount by wilfully destroying the evidences through deletion
of baggage details in their system with an intent to prevent it from being used
in evidence against them.
conspired together to fraudulently defraud the victim of the four bags
containing the said amount by wilfully destroying the evidences through deletion
of baggage details in their system with an intent to prevent it from being used
in evidence against them.
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