Advanced fee fraud allegations: Court fixes Nov 26 for trial of TSTV execs

BY ANDREW OROLUA

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja has finally fixed November 26 for trial of the two Chief Executives of the Telecom Satellites Limited (TSTV) on charges of advanced fee fraud, money laundering and tax invasion brought against them by the federal government.

The TSTV Executives are Dr Bright Ikechukwu Echefu who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and Dr Felix Nnamdi Ignoanuga said to be Executive Director of the telecom satellites company.

Justice Ekwo was said to be out of Abuja on official engagement on July 15 when their trial was to begin on charge brought by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Registrar of the court had told lawyers, accused persons and other litigants that dates for their matters would be communicated to them by the Judge upon his return to Abuja.

However, Justice Ekwo in a notice of trial communicated to the two TSTV accused persons said that November 26 has been scheduled for the EFCC to open the case against them.

The November date was said to have been picked by the Judge following the yearly vacation of the Federal High that will end in October this year.

The TSTV Executives were put on trial alongside TSTV and another company, Briechberg Investment Limited by the EFCC on 9-count criminal charges.

READ ALSO: How intelligence, security agencies uncovered plan to…

Part of the charges are that the two men on May 18, 2020 committed money laundering bordering on tax invasion, unremitted VAT, Company income tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deducted from the salaries of 165 workers punishable under section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012.

They were alleged to have on May 18, 2020 diverted to their personal use N33. 9m, N13. 5m and N19. 4m tax money payable to the federal government in breach of section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

On his part alone, Dr Bright Ikechukwu Echefu who is the first accused person was alleged to have defrauded a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , Turaki Kabir Tanimu of N960M under false pretences.

The charge indicated that Echefu while acting as the Managing Director of Briechberg Investment Limited on May 18, 2020 with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150m from Tanimu who is the Managing Director of Kalsiyam Farm as loan to acquire modern equipment for his telecom company.

The money was said to have been paid into Briechberg Investment Limited account number 1015561485 domicile at Zenith Bank.

On the same day, the accused person was said to have obtained another N380M paid into the same account for the same purpose while another N400m was also allegedly secured by the accused the same day and for the same purpose from Tanimu who is also the MD of BYI General and paid into the same account.

Still on the same May 18, 2020, Turaki SAN, while acting as Managing Director of K. T Turake made two payments of N15m each into the Briechberg Investment Limited bank account belonging to Dr Bright Ikechukwu Echefu for the same purpose.

Turaki Kabir Tanimu SAN was at a time, a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It would be recalled however that the two accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , Sylvanus Tahir is prosecuting the trial for the federal government while another SAN, Eyitayo Fatigun SAN is defending the two accused persons.