Alleged N2.9bn: Court threatens to issue bench warrant to Kenneth Amadi
By Anthony Okafor’
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, threatened to issue a Bench warrant for the arrest of a businessman, Kenneth Amadi, over his continues refusal to appear in court to answer to charges of alleged N2.9 billion fraud filed against him by the Federal Government.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice Mohammed Liman.
The businessman was again absent in court, yesterday, after missing out on two previous court proceedings.
Amadi’s scheduled arraignment alongside a firm, IDID Nigeria Limited, over the alleged offence was again stalled, yesterday, as there were no legal representations for them.
Addressing the court on the development, FG’s lawyer, Aderonke Imana, told Justice Liman that she got a letter from Amadi’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, SAN, requesting for an adjournment of the matter because of his engagement at a court in Abuja.
Imana expressed displeasure at the development, saying it was regrettable that the request was coming from the silk who incidentally was the one that picked the yesterday date for his client’s arraignment.
The lawyer also expressed worry at the continues absence of Amadi. She consequently urged the court to compel his appearance.
Imana also prayed the court to award a fine of N150, 000 against the defendants in her favour as compensation for all her stress in coming down from Abuja to attend the case.
After listening to the submissions the lawyer, Justice Liman threatened to issue a Bench warrant against Amadi if he failed to show up in court on March 4, 2020 for his arraignment over the alleged offence.
The judge also awarded N50, 000 cost against the defendants in favour of the prosecution’s lawyer.
The charges against the defendants include receiving and obtaining by false pretence, with intent to defraud, the sum of N2.9billion belonging to Eunisell Ltd, from A-Z Petroleum Ltd and AMMASCO International Ltd; omitting making full and true entry thereof in the books and accounts; suppression of data in respect of the financial transfer to Eunisell Ltd; and converting same amount without authority to create sufficient deposits to promote the credibility of his own company (Idid Nigeria Limited).
The offences are contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, CapA6, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.