Court orders arrest of businessman over $651, 280 allege fraud

An Abuja Chief Magisteate Court sitting at Bwari has issued an order for the arrest of a businessman and Chief Executive of a security company, Briech Intelligence Fusion Limited, Dr. Bright Echefu, over his alleged complicity in a $651, 280 fraud. 

Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke, issued the bench warrant following the failure of the defendant to appear before the court to answer to the charge against him. 

The prosecution counsel, Mr. JohnPaul Eze had prayed the court to compel the appearance of Echefu who is equally the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Satellite Television, TSTV, and his company, in line with the provision of Section 113 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015. 

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly defrauded a firm, BCG NEEDS Company of the said amount, under a false pretence of supplying it with drones and other  accessories. 

"A Bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendants. The Commissioner of Police FCT Abuja is accordingly ordered to arrest the defendants and bring them before this court on or before next adjourned date to enable them stand their trial," the Magistrate held in his ruling.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till December 9 for the arraignment of the defendants.

It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had earlier docked the TSTV boss before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a nine-count charge that bordered on alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants had on May 18, 2020, engaged in tax evasion by failing to remit the Value Added Tax, VAT, company income tax and Pay as You Earn (PAYE) that were deducted from salaries of about 165 staff members of the company. 

The prosecution told the court that the defendants diverted to their personal use, various sums that included N33.9million, N13.5m and N19.4m tax money payable to the coffers of the Federal Government. 

Besides, EFCC alleged that the 1st defendant, Dr. Echefu, defrauded a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Turaki Kabir Tanimu, of the sum of N960m under false pretences. 

It told the court that the defendant, while acting as the Managing Director of Briechberg Investment Limited, on May 18, 2020, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N150m from Turaki, SAN, who was the Managing Director of Kalsiyam Farm, as loan to acquire modern equipment for his telecom company. 

EFCC added that the said loan was paid into Briechberg Investment Limited's account number: 1015561485, domiciled at Zenith Bank. 

It told the court that on the same date, the defendant obtained another N380m that was paid into the same account for the same purpose, while he also secured N400m from Turaki, SAN.

According to the EFCC, 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 the defendant, for the same purpose. 

It added that as at the time the transactions took place, Turaki, SAN, was a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the defendant pleaded his innocence to all the allegations, even as he was released on bail by trial Justice Inyang Ekwo.