Ex-Nigeria
star Nwankwo Kanu has lost N1.4bn (about $104m) and a top executive of his
hotel has been arrested and charged to court.
star Nwankwo Kanu has lost N1.4bn (about $104m) and a top executive of his
hotel has been arrested and charged to court.
Managing director of Hardley Suites
Hotel in Lagos, Ayoola Gam Ikon, 49, has been arrested and charged to court for
the alleged fraud, according to a PM Newsreport.
Hotel in Lagos, Ayoola Gam Ikon, 49, has been arrested and charged to court for
the alleged fraud, according to a PM Newsreport.
Operatives of the Inspector General of
Police Monitoring Unit arrested Ikon, the managing director of Hardley Suites
Limited situated at Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos, for allegedly stealing the N1.4bn belonging to
the hotel owned by Kanu.
Police Monitoring Unit arrested Ikon, the managing director of Hardley Suites
Limited situated at Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos, for allegedly stealing the N1.4bn belonging to
the hotel owned by Kanu.
Also arrested along with him over the
alleged fraud is a hotel staff, Oke Samuel.
alleged fraud is a hotel staff, Oke Samuel.
They were arraigned before an Igbosere
Magistrate’s court on a 19-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under
false pretence.
Magistrate’s court on a 19-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under
false pretence.
The police alleged in charge suit No.
K/8/2013 that Ikon was arrested following a complaint by the management of
Hardley Suites Limited, Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonna Kanu, that Ikon between 2005
and 2012 allegedly defrauded them of the sum of about N1.4bn on the pretence of
using the money to expand the existing facilities of the hotel by constructing
and furnishing of additional blocks of 30 suites and conference facilities.
K/8/2013 that Ikon was arrested following a complaint by the management of
Hardley Suites Limited, Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonna Kanu, that Ikon between 2005
and 2012 allegedly defrauded them of the sum of about N1.4bn on the pretence of
using the money to expand the existing facilities of the hotel by constructing
and furnishing of additional blocks of 30 suites and conference facilities.
But he allegedly failed to use the
money for the purpose and allegedly converted the money to his personal use.
money for the purpose and allegedly converted the money to his personal use.
He was also alleged to have forged a
special resolution purportedly made by the board of directors of Hardley Suites
Limited to obtain loans of N187m, N50m and N493m from Skye Bank Plc without
authorisation.
special resolution purportedly made by the board of directors of Hardley Suites
Limited to obtain loans of N187m, N50m and N493m from Skye Bank Plc without
authorisation.
The offences, the accused allegedly
committed, according to the prosecutor A.M. Animashaun, contravenes sections 8
(a) 1 (a) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006
as applicable in Lagos State.
committed, according to the prosecutor A.M. Animashaun, contravenes sections 8
(a) 1 (a) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006
as applicable in Lagos State.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all
the charges.
the charges.
The prosecutor presented before the
court an application for the remand of the accused persons in prison custody
pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution because
the lower court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.
court an application for the remand of the accused persons in prison custody
pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution because
the lower court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.
But the Chief Magistrate, O.O.
Oshin overruled him with legal facts after quoting copiously from several
sections of the criminal justice administration laws of Lagos State to buttress
her claim that the court has the jurisdiction to hear and admit the accused to bail.
Oshin overruled him with legal facts after quoting copiously from several
sections of the criminal justice administration laws of Lagos State to buttress
her claim that the court has the jurisdiction to hear and admit the accused to bail.
She admitted the first defendant to
bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be the
defendant himself; the other should be a civil servant on level 16.
defendant himself; the other should be a civil servant on level 16.
She also admitted the second defendant
to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. One of the
sureties must be a level 16 civil servant while the other must be working with
a reputable company.
to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. One of the
sureties must be a level 16 civil servant while the other must be working with
a reputable company.
She adjourned the matter till April 4
for mention.
for mention.
