EFCC Arraigns Indian Bizman For N816m Fraud Allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arraigned an Indian national, Chandra Singh, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over an alleged N816 million fraud.

The foreigner was docked before Justice Ismail Ijelu by the EFCC on a 19-count charge bordering on bribery and retention of stolen property.

The anti-graft agency had accused the defendant of committing the offence on or before January 1, 2021, while he was in the employment of African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.

The prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari told the court that the defendant allegedly solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage on his company CVN Engineering Limited so as to influence his employer to award the supply of cost N365 million to CVN Engineering Ltd.

Mrs Buhari also alleged that the defendant solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage on another of his company Neo Paints Nigeria Limited by trying to influence his employer to award the supply of products valued at N451 million to Neo Paints Nigeria Limited.

The prosecutor further claimed that the defendant dishonestly retained the sum of 4,150 USD belonging to African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.

She insisted that the offences violated sections 83, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The foreigner, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on his plea, Mrs Buhari urged the court to fix a trial date and also remand the defendant at the correctional centre.

But the defence counsel, Hassan Olanrewaju informed the court of the bail application for the defendant and requested a short adjournment to enable him to prepare for the trial.

Subsequently, Justice Ijelu remanded the defendant at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to November 30 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.