Shame as court jails two MTN staff over N1.3billion fraud

It was a shameful sight to behold on Tuesday when an Ikeja High Court remanded two MTN employees in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N1.3bn belonging to the firm’s cooperative society.

SHOWBIZPLUS gathered that Justice Kudirat Jose remanded the employees -Victor Akintunde and Gani Mustapha- in custody after they appeared before the court.

Akintunde, 41, and Mustapha, 46, are former President and Secretary of the MTN Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative Society respectively.

They were charged to court alongside a property developer, Mutairu Babatunde and two other companies -Primavera Engineering and Construction Ltd. and Mabo Dredging Ltd.

The defendants are facing a 17 counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing, issuance of dud cheque and forgery.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the arraignment of the defendants was, however, stalled due to Babatunde’s absence.

Following the development, the judge directed the defence counsel, Mr George Oguntade (SAN), to ensure Babatunde’s presence in court at the next adjournment date.

She adjourned the matter till February 27 for arraignment of the defendants.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Emmanuel Jackson, alleged that the defendants conspired to commit the offences between April and September 2009 in Lagos.

Jackson said the defendants fraudulently obtained the money as sundry payments, to facilitate the purchase of 13 hectares of land at Okun Ajah Community in Lagos, on behalf of MEMCOS members.