An oil marketer, Mr. Chima Anyaso and his company, Ceecon Energy Oil and Gas Limited, have been arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a three count-charge bordering on forgery and N2, 066,400 billion fraud.
In a charge marked FHC/L/332c/18, Anyaso and his company located at Worth Plaza, Olaza 307, Suite 301, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, are alleged to have committed the offence on a or about February 21, 2011.
The oil marketer is alleged to have forged a letter head paper of Total Nigeria Limited, captioned ‘offer to sale’ dated February 21, 2011, with reference number AAC/CSO/OPS/, which he falsely presented to Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) to obtain credit facility of N2,066, 400, 000 billion for delivery of 15 metric tonnes of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK).
He was also alleged to have forged another letter head paper of Total Nigeria Limited with reference number FEB/yjo.FIN22.11, dated February 22, 2011, which he presented to GTB for the payment of N2, 066,400 billion, for the supply of 15 metric tonnes of ATK.
Anyaso was also alleged to have fraudulently obtained the said sum from GTB as credit facility.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Julius I. Ajakaiye, a deputy director in the office of the attorney general of the federation are contrary to and punishable under sections 2(1)(c) and section 1(1)(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences, Cap. A6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecutor told the court at the resumed hearing in the matter on Tuesday that the criminal charge against the oil marketer and his company arose from a petition by GTB, dated January 19, 2017 and signed by one Sarah Ugamah and Tolulope Fadipe on behalf of the Bank.
However, he informed the court that the defendants had been evading service.
He therefore urged the court to issue order of substituted service, through an Ex parte motion, by way of pasting the charge in the defendants’ last known addresses at number 16, Babatunde Dabiri Street, Lekki Phase 1 and Olaza 307/Suit301, third wing, Worth Plaza, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Justice Ayotunde Faji, while adjourning the matter till January 30 for report of service, ordered that the charge sheet be pasted at the last known addresses of the defendants.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Mr. Chima Anayso, Male of 16 Babatunde Dabiri Street Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Ceecon Energy Oil & Gas Limited, of Olaza 307/ Suite 301, 3rd Floor Right Wing Wright Plaza, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on or about 21st of February, 2011 at Lagos State, under the jurisdiction of this court did present a false document to wit: ‘Letter of offer for sale’ dated 21st February, 2011 with Ref No. AAC/CSO/OPS on the letter head of Total Nigeria Plc, with intent that Guaranty Trust Bank may believe it is genuine, be induced to believe that you have the offer of sale for delivery of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) 15,000 metric tonnes (+/-5%)…and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Count two reads: “That you Chima Anyaso, Male of 16 Babatunde Dabiri Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Ceecon Energy Oil and Gas Limited of Olaza 307/Suite 301, 3rd Floor Right Wing Worth Plaza, Adeola Odeku Street, Vitoria Island, Lagos on or about the 22nd of February, 2011, at Lagos State, under the jurisdiction of this court did utter a false document to wit: RE; Payment Of Supply Of 15,000 Mt of aviation turbine kerosene (ATK) REF AAC/CSO/OPS Ref No: Feb/yjoFlN.’22.11 dated February 22, 2011 on the letter head of Total Nigeria Plc…to grant credit facility to the tune of N2,066,400,000.00 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c)of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
Count three reads: “That you, Mr. Chima Anyaso, male of 16 Babatunde Dabiri, Street Lekki Phase 1 Lagos, Ceecon Energy Oil and Gas Limited of Plaza 307/Suite 301, 3rd Floor, Right Wing Worth Plaza, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, sometime in 2011 at Lagos State under the jurisdiction of this court by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank a credit facility to the tune of N2, 066, 400,000.00 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, Cap A6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
