The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has closed it’s case against Tom Awhana and Paul Okoro who were arraigned for about two hundred million naira alleged fraud before a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Commission arraigned the two defendants on nineteen count charges in April last year over conspiracy to commit felony, stealing the said sum from Mogbeyi Sagay & co. sometimes between year 2012 and 2013 in Lagos.
EFCC alleged that the first defendant, Tom Awhana used his position as the head of the Chamber of Mogbeyi Sagay & co. to perpetrate the act by fraudlently withdraw from the companies accounts domicile in Access Bank and Zenith Bank.
Awhana was made a signatory to the law firm’s Zenith Bank Account alongside three administrators of the late SAN’s estate.
He is alleged to have diverted drawn cheques into secret accounts and had, from 2012 to 2017, stolen the funds.
The commission noted that after Mr Awhana left the law firm, the alleged fraud perpetrated by him was uncovered through a revelation by a client, Babatunde Allen.
“After the first defendant”s exit, the firm conducted an inventory and discovered that some files were missing from the office.
According to EFCC, the Offences is contrary to section 409 and punishable under section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011.
The offences they pleaded not guilty of when the charge was read to them.
Closing it’s trial today, the Commission presented the last witness, the Managing Director of Consolidated Discount Limited a subsidiary of AMCON, Mr. Ben Daminabo who narrated the role AMCON play to recover the debt.
Mr. Daminabo been led in evidence box by EFCC Counsel, Abbas Mohammed, he informed the court that as at the time when the crime was perpetrated, he was the Chief Legal Officer of AMCON.
The commission had called nine witnesses to proof the allegations against the defendants, comprises of bank officials, the Chamber staff and EFCC Officials who investigated the alleged fraud.
Subsequently, the two defendants counsel, Ifeoluwa Ojediran and Kemi Afesojaiye told the court of their intentions to file a no case submission on the grounds that the charges are frivolous in nature.
They prayed for an adjournment to enable them file their “No Case Submission” application.
After entertaining submission of counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned till October 23.
