Whistle blower remanded in prison for alleged false alarm

LAGOS, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja today remanded a whistleblower, Mr. Umoh Edem in prison custody for allegedly raising false alarm about N700 million pension and tax evasion fraud.

Edem was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one count charge of making false statement to a public officer.

The prosecution Counsel of the EFCC, Mr S. O. Daji told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 7, 2019 in Lagos. Daji said that the defendant provided a false information to a public officer and the EFCC about the involvement of a company, Starsonic/Sacvin Group of Nigeria, where he is an employee, in a pension and tax evasion fraud.

According to the EFCC, the defendant, claimed that the management staff of the company was involved in a massive pension fraud, tax evasion and other fraudulent activities to the tune of N700 million,” contrary to section 96 (a) of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.

He said that Edem had on August 7, with an intent to cause arrest and prosecution of the management staff of Starsonic/Sacvin Group Nigeria Ltd gave information he knew to be false to the EFCC and Mrs Patience Kalu, a public officer.
He alleged that the defendant said that the company is involved in a massive pension fraud, tax evasion and other fraudulent activities running over N700m

“The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Vacation Judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, thereafter remanded the defendant in prison custody while the case file was remitted back to the registry for assignment. (NAN)