Company Worker Docks for Alleged N29.9m Fraud
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned one Charles Imohimi Uangbaoje before Justice S. C. Amadi of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering, and stealing to the tune of Twenty Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Ten Naira and Seventy Four Kobo. (N29, 942,010.74)
The accused allegedly diverted proceeds of a contract which his employer, Sintehudumo Nigeria Limited executed for Nigeria Agip Oil Company, to personal use.
Bubble bursted when the accused suddenly stopped reporting to work, several months after he had reportedly told his employers that the contract was not performing.
Checks at NAOC by the employer revealed that monies were paid into an alternate account opened in the company’s name by the accused in a new generation bank.
One of the counts against the accused reads: “that you, Charles Imohimi Uangbaoje and Goldstride Nigeria Limited between the 30th day of January, 2013 and the 12thday of December, 2013 at First City Monument Bank Plc. Trans Amadi Industrial Layout branch, Port Harcourt within Port Harcourt Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did fraudulently steal the sum of Sixteen Million Seven Hundred and Eighty One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Naira, Seventy Four Kobo (N16, 781, 770. 74), property of Sintehudumo Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999”.
Another count reads, “that you Charles Imohimi Uangbaoje and Goldstride Nigeria Limited between the 19th day of February, 2014 and the 15th day of December, 2014 at First City Monument Bank Plc. Trans Amadi Industrial Layout branch, Port Harcourt within Port Harcourt Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did fraudulently steal the sum of Eight Million Twenty Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Naira (N8, 020, 240. 00), property of Sintehudumo Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Justice Amadi, adjourned the matter January 21, 2016 for commencement of trial.