Former Managing Director of an aviation fuelling company, Star Orient Nigeria Limited, Dare Osamo, a lawyer and one other were on Wednesday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba for alleged theft of N1 billion.
The Defendants, Osamo, Ayoola Olore Abisola 30 and Hussaina Abdulkadir, 32 were docked before Magistrate Mrs A.A Oshiniyi on four counts charge bordering on forgery and stealing by the Nigeria Police.
At the resume of the proceedings, the prosecutor, Jimoh Joseph informed the that the has been under investigation for eighteen months before they were brought before the court following the DPP’s advice which says they have a case to answer.
When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their not guilty pleas, Magistrate (Mrs) Oshuniyi grant them bail in the sum of five million naira (N5m) with two responsible sureties in like sum and one of them must be blood relative.
She further ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, must provide details of their residential address and evidence of tax payment to the State.
Earlier in their allocutus, counsel to the 1st-3rd defendants Messers O.T Adebayo , Adejo Mordecia prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms, saying that they have never missed appointments with the police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC during the period of investigation.
Part of the charge read against the defendants reads: “ That you Dare Osamo (m)Ayoola Olore Abisola 30 (f) and Hussaina Abdulkadir (f) and others at large , sometimes between the year 2016 and 2019 at Star Orient Nigeria Limited at JUH12 , Muritala Mohammed Airport , Ikeja Lagos did conspire to commit forgery, obtaining money by false pretense and stealing , thereby committing and Offences punishable under section 411 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.
“That you Dare Osamo (m)Ayoola Olore Abisola 30 (f) and Hussaina Abdulkadir (f) and others at large , on the aforesaid date did forged a Star Orient Nigeria Limited Board Resolution dated 31st July, 2018, and 15th December, 2015 with the intent it may be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice members of the public , thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365(1) , Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you Dare Osamo (m)Ayoola Olore Abisola 30 (f) and Hussaina Abdulkadir (f) and others at large on the aforesaid date did obtain the sum of N1,605,019,015,01 (one billion, six hundred and five million, nineteen thousand fifteen naira, one kobo), from Star Orient Nigeria Limited, in the pretence of selling and buying Aviation products, a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 314(1) and (3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State , 2015.