AGF bids to takeover Citadel MD’s trial
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minster for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has applied to take-over the prosecution of the case involving Managing Director of Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd, Benjamin Joseph before an FCT High Court. Joseph, through the chambers of his defence team: Udah, Bala, James & Partners, had petitioned the AGF […]
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minster for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has applied to take-over the prosecution of the case involving Managing Director of Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd, Benjamin Joseph before an FCT High Court.
Joseph, through the chambers of his defence team: Udah, Bala, James & Partners, had petitioned the AGF accusing a director in the Ministry of Justice of interfering with the move by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s investigation into his petition against officials of Zinox Group.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, a principal state counsel, Shefihu Mahmoud, announced representation for the AGF, and applied to take-over the prosecution of the trial under Section 173 of the 1999 Constitution.
But Justice Peter Kekemeke adjourned the case to March 13 for further hearing after counsel to the Nigeria Police, Simon Lough raised an objection seeking to verify the identity of the counsel.
The Nigerian Police charged Joseph with giving the police false information, identity theft, impersonation and criminal conversion of contract after he accused top officials of Zinox Group, including the Chairman, Leonard Stanley Ekeh, and wife, Chioma, of hijacking a N170.3 million contract awarded to his company by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2012.
Also listed in the petition dated July 3, 2014 include Chief S.O. Igbokwe, Princess O. Kama, Mrs Folashade Oyebode, Mr Chris Eze Ozim, Admas Digital Technologies Ltd, Pirovics Engineering Services Ltd, Technology Distributions Ltd, and Zinox Technologies Ltd.
He had also accused them of forging a board resolution of Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd with which they opened bank account number: 0059202575 with Access Bank PLC for a computer supply contract with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) worth N170 million.