Admin l Monday, June 20, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – One of Nigeria’s most reputable publisher, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers is in deep trouble, a development that could ruin the future of this publishing firm, which has outlived generations.
This is because, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the company, along with one Bola Fasasi, while Professor Adesanya Adelekan is still at large.
Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Adelekan and one Bola Fasasi were accordingly charged $156, 700 book fraud.
They were arraigned on an amended six-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
According to the charge sheet: “Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, obtained books worth $156,711.87 for sale by false pretences from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia.”
“Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to obtain goods by false pretences, property of BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia,” it added.
According to EFCC, the defendants, under false pretences, promised to sell the books and remit the proceeds within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading.
Fasasi, however, pleaded not guilty. Justice Mojisola Dada remanded Fasasi in Ikoyi Correctional Centre, and adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing of his bail application.
