Emirates Airlines staff in Lagos accused of stealing $1.6 million

LAGOS, Nigeria – Emirates Airlines and four members of its staff in Nigeria are at the Federal High Court in Lagos accused of the theft of $1.6 million belonging to a Lagos businessman, Prince Chu Ikem Orji.

Abayomi Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia, were arraigned alongside the airline, Pathfinders International Ltd and Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Limited on 11 counts charge of stealing, fraud, obtaining money under false pretences, willful destruction of evidence, and failure to report an international transfer of funds.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against them, but prosecuting counsel, Michael O. S. urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending hearing of their bail applications.

In response, the defence lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), leading four other lawyers, informed the court that the bail applications of the accused persons have been filed and the prosecution, served.

He added that the accused persons had also been granted bail by Justice Abang when they were initially arraigned before the court. He therefore urged the court to allow the accused to continue to enjoy that bail as it has not been revoked.

The prosecution insisted that the accused be remanded because he had only just been served with copies of the bail applications, and needed time to reply. He also told the court that the charge before Abang was different from the new amended charge.

Ruling, presiding Judge Idris contended that bail is the right of every accused person and not a privilege as an accused person is presumed innocent until contrary is proven.

Consequently, the court admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with one surety each. Each surety must possess landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and each of the accused must deposit their passports with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.

The accused persons are alleged, on 19 December 2007 at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos, to have stolen four bags with tag numbers EK 428682, EK 428683, EK 650162, EK 650161, containing the sum of $1.6million, belonging to Prince Chu Ikem Orji which they had promised to keep intact for onward delivery to him in Guangzhou, China.

They are also alleged to have conspired together to fraudulently defraud the victim of the four bags containing the said amount by willfully destroying the evidence through deletion of baggage details in their system with an intent to prevent it from being used in evidence against them.

According to the prosecutor, the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 390 (0), 442, 421, 419, 123, of the criminal code Act, Cap C38 and 15 (2), (b) and (3) of the Money Laundry Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.