Admin l Monday, March 04, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – An Ikeja Special Offences Court today acquitted Vice Principal of American international School Lagos(AISL) Ebele Mbanugo for alleged theft of $110,267 belonging to a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) owned and operated by Former First Lady of Cross Rivers State, Mrs Onari Duke.
Mbanugo, who was alleged to have defrauded the Child Survival and Development Organisation of Nigeria, Duke’s NGO of the funds between 2009 and 2011.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that the prosecution failed to prove that the allegedly stolen funds, raised for the purpose of purchasing mammogram machines for detection of breast cancer was allegedly misappropriated by the defendant.
She noted that the criminal suit stemmed from a “serious and disruptive rivalry” between the defendant and Duke on the ownership of the fundraising initiative.
“The prosecution failed to prove that the money misappropriated belongs to Mrs Duke. Mrs Duke was not called to testify in this case. The testimony of the defendant showed how three mammogram machines were bought from General Electric for $133,000 which is a sum higher than the sum allegedly misappropriated by the defendant.
“The prosecution failed to prove the source of the funds or that the defendant fraudulently converted it to her own use. The defendant had shown various brochures, pictures and documents highlighting her passion for fighting breast cancer as her mother and two aunts were diagnosed with the disease and she had said how early detection had saved her mother.
“It is unfortunate that such a laudable initiative could be marred by conflict between Mrs Duke and the defendant over ownership of the foundation. The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted and found not guilty of the three-count charge.”
