A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos today set a new date of March 14, 2017 for the arraignment of Richard Nyonh, the chief executive of Lekki Garden Estate Limited, the firm itself as well as two others.
The arraignment, scheduled to take part today before Justice Idris Mohammed, was foiled as the accused persons were absent when the case was called up.
Last year, the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had filed a three-count criminal charge of conspiracy and stealing against Mr. Nyonh, his company, Lekki Garden Estate Limited, and two others before a Federal High Court in Lagos, south west Nigeria. That charge listed Christiana Amida and Blessing Essien as the other accused persons.
The case alleged that Mr. Nyonh and the other accused persons, on or about April 22, 2014, conspired to steal one HP Mini laptop 320GB and seven pairs of women’s shoes valued at N184, 500. The alleged crimes took place at Lekki Garden Estate Limited, located at Plot 1, Lekki Garden Estate Road in Olokonla district. The accused persons also allegedly stole N550, 300 in cash as well as a cheque slip worth N502, 000.
In the case, filed by Susan Ezema, a Superintendent of Police, the Special Fraud Unit also alleged that the accused persons, without a court order or any lawful excuse, dispossessed one Excellence Nora Eneh, of a Hyundai Accent saloon car with license plate number LSU 552 BR. The vehicle was an official car allocated to Ms. Eneh, a former employee of Lekki Garden limited.
The alleged offenses violated sections 516, 383 and 388, punishable under section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
None of the accused persons was present in court at the last adjourned date of December 12, 2016. As a result, Justice Mohammed adjourned the arraignment till today and ordered that hearing notices should be issued to the accused persons. Their absence from court today was unexplained.
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