The trial of one Chandra Singh, an Indian, for an alleged N816, 361,386.75 fraud before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos could not continue as scheduled on Thursday due to the absence of the defence counsel, Hassan Olanrewaju.
Singh was on November 24, 2022, arraigned on a 19-count charge bordering on retention of stolen property and bribery by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The alleged offences are contrary to Section 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, and Section 83 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
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One of the counts reads: “That Chandra Prankash Singh, on or before 1st of January, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst in the employment of African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage for your company, CVN Engineering Limited, in order that you influence your employee to award the supply of items costing N365,757,457.00 to CVN Engineering Limited.”
Another count reads: “That Chandra Prankash Singh, on or before 1st of January, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst in the employment of African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage for your company, Neo Paints Nigeria Limited, in order that you influence your employee to award the supply of items costing N243,141,638.75 to Neo Paints Nigeria Limited.”
He is also alleged to have dishonestly retained the sum of $4,150 belonging to African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts.
At the last sitting on December 6, 2022, the prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, had led in evidence, the second prosecution witness, Omotosho Adewunmi, an operative of the EFCC, who testified to the findings of the investigation into the alleged offence.
Several documents were also tendered in evidence through her, which were admitted as exhibits against the defendant.
The witness was expected to continue her testimony on Thursday.
However, the defence counsel, Olanrewaju, had sent a letter notifying the court of his absence.
Olarenwaju, in the said letter, stated that he had an appointment with his medical doctor.
Consequently, Justice Ijelu adjourned the case till December 21, 2022 for continuation of trial.Ha