The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a businessman, John Abebe, who is a younger
brother to the late former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo for alleged forgery.
Abebe, was arraigned on four
counts before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Thursday.
The EFCC, alleged that Abebe,
“knowingly forged” a November 30, 1995 letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria
Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd.
The anti-graft agency alleged
that the businessman “illegally inserted” into page 2 of the said letter “the
following statement, “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the
pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from
production of oil in any of our fields.”
According to the EFCC, Mr. Abebe
also attempted to “pervert the course of justice” by tendering the allegedly
forged November 30, 1995 letter “as a fabricated evidence” in court, in Suit
No. FHC/L/CS/224/2010 between Dr. John Abebe, Inducon Nigeria Limited and
Statoil Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC, however, has accused
him of making an attempt to “mislead the court” by using fabricated evidence,
contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of
Nigeria 2003.
The prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo,
told the court that, Abebe violated Section 126 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap
C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
Oyedepo added that forgery was a
violation of Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of
Nigeria, 2003.
The businessman, however, pleaded
not guilty.
Justice Mojisola Dada, while
adjourning the case ordered that Abebe be remanded in Ikoyi Prison.
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