By Lukman Olabiyi

A couple, Amaechi Ndili and Njide Chizoba Ndili alongside their firm, Lionstone Offshore Services, have been arraigned before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja (Special Offence Court) for allegedly stealing $4,666,234.28 meant for their business partner.

The couple and their firm were docked on three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe by the police. The police alleged in the charge that the defendants allegedly exploited the Local Content Act, by denying their foreign partner, Hercules Offshore Nigeria Limited, the funds due to it.

The police claimed that Lionstone was engaged by Hercules as its local partner and to receive payments on its behalf, in respect of contracts it executed for Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecution further alleged that the $4,666,234.28 formed part of the payments the defendants received on behalf of Hercules, but which they failed to remit to Hercules by their agreement, but, instead, allegedly converted the money to their personal use.

They were, in count one, accused of conspiring “to commit felony to wit. Stealing by conversion of the sum of $4,666,234.28 property of Hercules Offshore Nigeria Ltd, contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The defendants were accused, in count two, of stealing “by dishonestly converting to your use the sum of $4,666,234.28, which you received from Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd on behalf of Hercules Offshore Nigeria Ltd, and, therefore, committed an offence contrary to Section 387 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Related News

The couple, in count three, was accused of dishonestly converting the $4,666,234.28 they “received from Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd on behalf of Hercules Offshore Nigeria Ltd, on account of the contract you and your company, Lionstone Offshore Limited, entered into with Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd, which was executed by Hercules Offshore Nigeria Ltd, but you failed to deliver money to Hercules, an offence contrary to Section 388 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Abike-Fadipe granted the defendants bail after listening to arguments from the prosecutor, Simon Lough (SAN) and the defence counsel, Ebun Sofunde (SAN).

While the judge ordered the husband to continue to enjoy the terms of the bail earlier granted to him by the former trial judge, she granted the wife bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.

The judge has fixed January 30 for the commencement of trial and for the hearing of an application filed by the defendants, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.