By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of an oil marketing firm, Triumph Oil and Gas Madgascar Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud has been charged with attempt to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the tune of $100million.
Mahmud, who was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a six-count charge, marked: CR/1041/2020 was also accused of forging the signatures of the CBN Govrnor, Godwin Emefiele, Special Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf and the GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mahmud, who allegedly claimed to be a Deputy Governor in CBN, was said to have taken the said forged documents to the apex bank to demand for the payment of $100m for the contract he claimed his firm was awarded by the CBN.
Mahmud was said to have also claimed that his firm was engaged to monitor and supervise major Federal Government’s infrastructure projects, forfeited assets and government businesses, for which the CBN approved the payment of the $100m.
Upon being confronted with Mahmud’s claims, the CBN was said to have referred the case to the EFCC for investigation, following which the investigating agency found that, not only was his firm not registered, the documents he paraded were of doubtful origin.
Mahmud, who, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Halilu Yusuf was, on Monday in Abuja ordered to be returned to the Kuje prison following his inability to meet the bail conditions.
At the mention of the case on Monday, prosecuting lawyer, Benjami Manji said the case was for trial and that he was ready and has his witness in court.
Defence lawyer, J. K. Kolawole pleaded for time to enable him familiarise himself with the case, claiming he was new in the matter.
With EFCC’s lawyer not opposing the defence lawyer’s application, Justice Yusuf adjourned till January 24 for definite trial, during which an official of the CBN is expected to testify for the prosecution.
Some counts in the charge read:
*That you Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud on or about 8th May, 2020 at Abuja, fraudulently made a false document to wit: Central Bank of Nigeria certificate of ownership, dated 6th May, 2020, purportedly signed by Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and National Assembly of Federal Republic of Nigeria signature stating that you are the rightful beneficiary of US$100,000,000.00 only with the intention of causing same to be believed that the said document was genuine and emanated from Central Bank of Nigeria, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 362 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Cup, 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Abuja) 1990.
*That you Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud on or about 18th May, 2020 at Abuja, fraudulently made a false document to wit: Central Bank of Nigeria deposit certificate dated 18th May, 2020, purportedly signed by Mr. Mele Kyari, Chairman of NNPC and Mr Godwin Emefele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria depositing US$50,000,000.00 only wit the intention of causing same to be believed that the said document was genuine and emanated from Central Bank of Nigeria, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to 362 and Punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Cup, 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Abuja) 1990.
*That you Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud on or about 22 July, 2020 at Abuja, fraudulently used as genuine a forged document to wit: Centre Bank of Nigeria deposit certificate dated 18th May, 2020 purportedly signed by Mr. Mele Kyari, Chairmen of NNPC and Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, when you presented the said document to the Central Bank of Nigeria to support your claim of USS50,000,000.00 only which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Cup, 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Abuja) 1990.
*That you Ibrahim Olanrewaju Mahmud on or about 5t October 2020 at Abuja, with the intent to defraud, had in your possession, a document titled: Federal Republic of Nigeria Confirmation of Appointment, dated 15th January, 2018 purportedly signed by Sabiu Yusuf, Special! Assistant to the President, printed from your email account – ibrahimmahmud29@gmail.com wherein you presented yourself as Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 6 & 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.