EFCC arraigns three NGO officials over MTN’s N4.5m fund
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By Olu AJAYI
NIGERIA: THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three workers of Hope Worldwide Foundation on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing of N4.5 million.
The money, GatewayMail learnt, belonged to MTN Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria, which was established to help the Nigerian society, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The trio of Owolabi Samuel, Esther Mate and Abimbola David-Orugun stole the money given to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to cater for Acquired Immunized Deficiency Syndrom (HIV) victims and less privileged people.
The suspects were arraigned before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja by the Lagos Zonal office of the commission, alongside Cumulative Ventures Limited and Continental Best Buys Limited.
One of the charge reads: “That you, Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola (a.k.a Bukky Mate, Bukola Mate), Abimbola David-Orugun, Cumulative Ventures, Continental Best Buys Limited, Olaoshebikan Candido Clement (at large) and Abosede Fasasi (at large), sometime in January, 2007, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, conspired to steal money, property of MTN Nigeria Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, set up to cater for the less privileged people and HIV victims across Nigeria and committed felony, to wit, stealing contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.”
The second charge says: “That you, Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola (a.k.a Bukky Mate, Bukola mate), Abimbola David-Orugun, Cumulative Ventures, Continental Best Buys Limited, Olaoshebikan Candido Clement (at large) and Abosede Fasasi (at large), sometime in October, 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, dishonestly converted the sum of N3, 556, 000.00 (Three Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Naira) property of MTN Nigeria Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, set up to cater for the less privileged people and HIV victims across Nigeria and committed stealing contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
When the charges were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty and the prosecution counsel, K.M.A. Olushesi, urged the court for a short date for the commencement of trial.
Justice Oshodi, however, granted the defendants bail on self-recognizance and a N2 million financial bond each, which should be paid to the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court.
Similarly, the suspects were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court’s Registrar, but were also warned that the bail would be revoked if the defendants failed to perfect the bail conditions within seven days.
Justice Oshodi, thereafter, adjourned the case to June 26 for continuation of trial.
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