A Special Offences Court in Lagos, has fixed August 18, 2022, for adoption of final written addresses in the trial of MD of Homeland and Overseas Limited, Osita Ojeah, over allegation of N139m fraud.
The trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo fixed the date after Ojeah closed his defence in a criminal suit brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ojeah was arraigned on November 30, 2020, along with his company, Homeland and Overseas Limited, and Anthony Nwosu on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and conspiracy to steal.
The Offences is said to have contravenes Sections 278(1)(a), 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
According to EFCC, the defendants on February 3, 2016 conspired, stole and converted N139 million belonging to Virgin Forest Energy Limited.
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Part of the count read: “That Osita Ojeah, Anthony Nwosu and Homeland and Overseas Ltd., on or about the 3rd of February 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonesty stole and converted the sum of N139, 000,000 property of Virgin Forest Nigeria Limited.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During court proceedings, the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Folashade Giwa led in evidence, a member of a Special Task Force with the Commission, Ronke Sulaiman, who investigated the case.
In her testimony, Ronke Sulaiman, said that sometimes on June 12, 2022, an investigation was carried out on the defendant account and the said amount was traced in tranches from Zenith bank, Access bank and Sterling bank to it.
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After all the money got to the defendant account, N30 million was later transferred back to the complainant’s account.
The statement of accounts of the three banks was admitted in evidence as exhibit E for Access bank, exhibit F for Sterling bank and exhibit H for Zenith bank.
However, after a cross examination of the prosecutor’s witness, defence counsel, Henry Isiekwe, told the court that the defence was closing its case. “We will be asking the court for a date to file our written addresses,” he said.
Justice Taiwo further adjourned the matter until August 18, 2022 for adoption.
