Alleged N634m fraud: Six ex-CHISCO staff face trial

The trial of six former senior staff members of Chisco Group of Companies over an alleged N634 million fraud act yesterday continued before an Igbosere chief magistrate court, Lagos. The accused persons are Henry Uwalaka, 48; Chukwudi Ezeoma, 42; Stephen Okeke, 55, and 42- year-old Mrs Nonye Obianwu. The others are Essang Okon, 56, and […]

The trial of six former senior staff members of Chisco Group of Companies over an alleged N634 million fraud act yesterday continued before an Igbosere chief magistrate court, Lagos.

The accused persons are Henry Uwalaka, 48; Chukwudi Ezeoma, 42; Stephen Okeke, 55, and 42- year-old Mrs Nonye Obianwu.

The others are Essang Okon, 56, and 47-year-old Nonso Anyaegbu, who the police described as a brother to the Chairman of the Chisco Group of Companies, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu.

The accused persons were alleged to have committed the offences against them between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 at No. 104, Funsho Williams Avenue, Iponri, Lagos.

The police alleged that the accused persons conspired with some other persons still on the run to steal from Chief Anyaegbu, contrary to Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Uwalaka and Ezeoma were alleged to have stolen N13.1m by inflating prices of vehicle particulars from N20,000 to N56,000 for each vehicle, property of Chisco Group of Companies.

The two men also allegedly stole N26m by inflating prices of 642 vehicle emblems from N4,500 to N45,000 for each vehicle, property of their employers, Chisco Group.

Both Uwalaka and Ezeoma were also alleged to have stolen N16.4m meant for vehicle recovery expenses, and another N329m unlawful debit from excess usage of automated gas oil, property of Chisco.

Okeke and others allegedly stole 134 motor batteries valued at N6m by negligently allowing those stolen items pass through the gates they manned as security officers.

Obianwu allegedly diverted a sum of N12m, property of the Chisco Group, into her personal account, while Nonso Anyaegbu allegedly conspired with others to steal N177.5m, property of the Chisco Group, by diverting it into different accounts.

Okon and others were said to have conspired with others still on the run to steal 1,950 tyre rims valued at N29.2m, property of the Chisco Group.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate, Mr B. I. Bakare, fixed further hearing on the case for October 27, 2019.