By Dele Ogbodo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal office, on Friday, arraigned the Managing Director of FirstNation Airways, Mr. Kayode Odukoya, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on allegation of stealing N1.7 billion.
In a statement signed by the EFCC’s I Head of Communications, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, which was made available to Sharpedgenews online, said the 4 count charge bordered on forgery, use of false information, perjury and stealing of N1, 741, 994, 962.04.
The statement partly read: “The defendant allegedly forged the Memorandum of Loss of Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy in respect of a property located in Lagos, so it could be acted upon as genuine.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Kayode Odukoya, on or about the 21st day of March, 2013 in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division knowingly forged the Memorandum of Loss of Lagos State CofO registered as No. 33 at page 33 in Volume 1011 at the Lagos State Registry, Alausa, Ikeja in respect of property being and situated at No. 29 Oduduwa Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos State with intent that the document may in any way be used or acted on as genuine to the prejudice of another.”
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of this, the prosecution counsel, Zainab Ettu, asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody so as to compel his appearance in court, the statement added.
Uwujaren said: “The defendant jumped the administrative bail given to him by the EFCC and refused to show up for his arraignment scheduled for March 9, 2018 before this court.
“He was apprehended by the Operatives of the Commission to ensure his arraignment today,” Zainab Ettu said.
Counsel to the defendant, however, urged the court to admit his client to bail.
The defence counsel further told the court that the defendant was not a flight-risk, adding that “he is well known in the business sector in the country.”
After listening to both parties, Justice Dada adjourned the case to March 26, 2018 for hearing of the bail application and April 7, 8 and 9, 2018 for commencement of trial.