Court adjourns FG’s N2.9b suit against Kenneth Amadi, firm

Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed April 29, 2020, for hearing in the alleged N2.9 billion fraud case instituted against a former employee of Eunisell, Kenneth Amadi, and a firm, IDID Nigeria Limited.

The judge fixed the date after the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, told the court that there were ongoing discussions between the parties for an amicable resolution.

When the matter was called yesterday, the lawyer said she was on her way to court when she learnt that discussions were ongoing for a peaceful settlement.

Imama said: “I was on my way to court this morning (yesterday) when I got an instruction that discussions were ongoing. I was directed to ask for an adjournment to allow parties negotiate on a possible out-of-court settlement of the matter.”

Amadi’s counsel, S. J. Ogogoyibo, had earlier informed the court that his client in talk with the Federal Government on the possibility of settling the matter out of court.

He said the defendant had engaged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) in that regard.

However, a lawyer, A. Adeoti, who appeared in court to observe the brief of the complainant, said he was not aware that the parties had engaged in settlement talks.

In the absence of an opposition to the adjournment request for adjournment by the prosecution’s counsel, Justice Liman, therefore, adjourned the matter to April 29 for a report of settlement or defendant’s arraignment.

Amadi had severally refused to appear in court for his arraignment. He is billed to be arraigned alongside a firm, IDID Nigeria Limited, over the alleged offence.

The charges against the defendants include “receiving and obtaining by false pretence, with intent to defraud, the sum of N2,900,000,000 belonging to Eunisell Ltd., from A-Z Petroleum Limited and AMMASCO International Ltd., omitting making full and true entry thereof in the books and accounts; suppression of data in respect of the financial transfer to Eunisell Limited and converting same amount without authority to create sufficient deposits to promote the credibility of his own company (IDID Nigeria Limited).”

The offences are contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, CapA6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same law.