Nigeria News
EFCC Arraigns Late Stella Obasanjo’s Sibling For Forgery
late Former First lady Stella Obasanjo (Tensold)
Former First Lady’s Brother Remanded In Prison For Alleged Fraud
A sibling to the Late, Nigeria’s Former First lady, Stella Obasanjo has been remanded in Prison For alleged Forgery.
The Lagos businessman, John Abebe who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the court on a four count charge of forgery.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court Today ordered that Abebe, be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending filing and hearing of his bail application by his counsel, Mr Uche Nwokedi (SAN).
The EFCC, in the charges, claimed that Abebe “knowingly forged” a letter dated November 30, 1995, written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Limited.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the businessman illegally inserted into page 2 of the said letter the following words: “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from production of Oil in any of our fields.”
The EFCC alleged that Abebe also attempted to pervert the course of justice by tendering the allegedly forged November 30, 1995 letter “as a fabricated evidence” in court, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/224/2010 between Dr. John Abebe, Inducon Nigeria Limited and Statoil Nigeria Limited.
The defendant was also alleged to have made an attempt to mislead the court by using fabricated evidence contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
EFCC prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that by attempting to pervert the course of justice, Abebe violated Section 126 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
Oyedepo added that forgery was a violation of Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
Abebe however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Dada adjourned the case to enable the defence counsel, Mr Nwokedi to file an application for his client’s bail.
