Admin l Friday, April 29, 2022
IKEJA, Lagos – A Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has turned down the bail application of Philemon Ibrahim Gora, who obtained the sum of N525 million from a traditional ruler, Kabiyesi Jacob Esan of Ijesaland and owner of Liberitas Plc, with the assurance of helping him to convert it to Dirham, the currency of the United Arab Emirate.
However, the bail application of the second defendant Osigwe Ediso, succeeded in the sum of N50 million and sureties in like sum.
The two defendants were charged alongside their firm, Gracious Environ Workers & Planners Nigeria Limited before Justice Sherifat Solebo, following their arrest.
The first defendant, Gora, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in July 2021, following a petition alleging that he used one of his front companies, Gracious Environ Workers & Planners Nigeria Limited, to obtain the sum of N525million from Kabiyesi Jacob Esan of Ijesa, Osun State and owner of Liberitas Plc, with the assurance of helping him convert it to the United Arab Emirate, UAE, Dirham.
Gora, however, reneged on the agreement and transferred the money to his various accounts as well as to some Bureaux de Change operators, who confirmed giving him the Dollar equivalent in cash, which he converted for his personal use.
The defendants were on December 6, 2021 arraigned on a 10-count charge of stealing, conspiracy to obtain by false witness and obtaining by false pretence.
Parts of the charge reads: “Philemon Ibrahim Gora, Osigwe Tobechukwu Edison and Gracious Environ Workers Limited & Planners Nigeria Limited, sometime in 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,and with intent to defraud ,did conspire amongst yourselves to steal the total sum of N525,000,000 (Five Hundred and Twenty-five Million Naira) property of HRH Jacob Esan.
“Philemon Ibrahim Gora, Osigwe Tobechukwu Edison and Gracious Environ Workers Limited & Planners Nigeria Limited, sometime in 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonesty converted to your own use the total sum of N300, 000,000 (Three Hundred Million Naira) property of Liberitas Plc.”
The defendants were also accused of defrauding Mabilla Resource Ltd. of the sum of N140million, and Covidol Traders, UAE of the sum of N85million. They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Defence counsel, Mohammed Ofoku (for Gora) and Aloy Ezenduka (for Osigwe and Gracious Environ Workers Limited & Planners Nigeria Limited), filed the bail applications of the defendants. They argued that the charges against the defendants were bailable and as such entitled to bail.
They urged the Court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendants. In opposing the bail application, the prosecuting counsel, Chineye Okezie filed a 21-paragraph counter-affidavit, urging the Court to refuse them bail.
The prosecution further argued that Gora who is also being prosecuted by the EFCC at a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, jumped bail and in the period continued to commit several other offences, leading to revocation of his bail.
The prosecution added that it took the EFCC some efforts to track him down and apprehend him, and ensured his attendance at his trial at the FCT High Court.
The prosecution urged the Court to take into cognizance “the gravity and severity of the offence”, which in the instance “makes the case one in which bail should not be granted being an economic crime.
The trial judge rejected bail for the first defendant but granted bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum to the second defendant.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a property owner in Lagos with proof of authentication of title; the second surety is to show proof of gainful employment. They must be resident in Lagos with proof of residency and produce evidence of three years tax payment. The case was thereafter adjourned till May 9 to 13, 2022 for continuation of trial.
