The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned Mr. Kanu Ifesinachi Tenison and his company, Vikan Integrated Services Nigeria Limited, before Justice P. M. Ayua of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on allegations of multiple fraud.
Tension and his company, first and second defendants respectively are facing prosecution on 11-count charges, bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, alteration and obtaining money under false pretence.
One of the charges read: “That you Kanu Ifesinachi Tenison and Vikan Integrated Services Nigeria Limited between the 18th day of September 2023 and 30th day of September 2023 in Bonny Island Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained money in the sum of Ten Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N10, 200,000.00) only from Mr Robinson Adakosa; money which was paid into account No:0008161871 domiciled with Access Bank Plc and operated by you, under the pretence that the money will generate for him yields on investment from a contract you purported to have secured with Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences, Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
Another reads: “That you Kanu Ifesinachi Tenison and Vikan Integrated Services Nigeria Limited between the 15th day of August 2023 and 1st day of December 2023 in Bonny Island, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained money in the sum of Twenty-Two Million Naira (N22, 000, 000.00) Only from Mr Tekena Erekeosima, which money was paid into account number:2031057422 with the account name; Vikan Integrated Services Nigeria Limited domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and operated by you, under the pretence that same will generate for him, yields on investment from a contract you purported to have secured with Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1: (3) of the same Act.”
He pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to him, upon which prosecution counsel K. U. Odus, prayed the court for a commencement date of trial and for the first defendant to be remanded in prison custody, while the defence counsel, G. Christopher informed the court of the defendant’s pending bail application and prayed the court to grant him bail to enable him to prepare for his trial.
In her ruling, Justice Ayua ordered that the first defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigeria Correctional Service, Port Harcourt and adjourned the matter till June 20, 2024, for hearing of the bail application.
Trouble began for the defendants when a petitioner in December 2023 alleged that the first defendant approached him for the sum of $11,700 (Eleven Thousand, Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars), which he said he needed to secure a contract from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG for the second defendant.
The petitioner allegedly released the sum to the defendant after both reached an agreement that the defendant shall pay him the sum of N3,750,000 (Three Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) upon the execution of the contract and payment by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, explained that the agreement was, however, not honoured by the defendant, while all efforts by the petitioner to get his money back met a brick wall.