High court, Lagos

Akin Kuponiyi.

The Nigeria foremost anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arraigned Two managers of two Oil companies, David Nwachukwu and Frank Okeke, alongside two companies, Haulage Oil and Gas Limited and Franviok, before a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere Lagos State, south west Nigeria on a 14-count charge of conspiracy to steal, stealing and fraudulent diversion of funds.

The accused persons were alleged to have failed to remit rentals of over N2 billion to the petitioner, Lecon Financial Services Limited.

In the said 14-count charge filed before the court by EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr.Rotimi Oyedepo, the commission stated that the two accused managers and the two companies, David Nwachukwu, Frank Okeke, Haulage Oil and Gas Limited and Franviok Limited sometime between January, 2013 and December, 2013 in Lagos with a dishonest intent “converted to their personal use the sum of N197.8 which sum forms part of rentals accrued to Leasing Company of Nigeria Limited (Now LECON Financial Services Ltd) from the use of their trucks to provide haulage services for Eterna Oil Plc”

It was further alleged: “David Nwachukwu, Frank Okeke, Haulage Oil and Gas Limited and Franviok Limited sometime between January, 2014 and September 20 14 with a dishonest intent converted to their own use the sum of N158.7 million which sum forms part of rentals accrued to Leasing Company of Nigeria Limited (Now LECON Financial Services Ltd) from the use of their trucks to provide haulage services for Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. In view of the plea of the accused persons, Mr Oyedepo asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

However, Counsel to the first accused, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo told the court that he had filed an application for bail and urge the court to let him move his application. He also urged the court to remand his client in the EFCC custody for easy accessibility. Counsel to the second, third and fourth accused persons, Mr K. Bello, aligned himself with the submission of Mr Taiwo

Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi adjourned the case till October 20, 2015 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the accused persons be remanded in the EFCC custody.