The arraignment of Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe and eight others by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of Nigeria Police over alleged $6.3million fraud was stalled ON Thursday at a Lagos High Court, Ikeja due to the absence of some the defendants.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
Wigwe is standing trial alongside Cast Oil and Gas Limited, Seyi Sanni, Adekunle Adebayo, Access Bank Plc, Titi Oshontoki, Chinyere Bishop-Adigwe, Sunny Amos Affiong and Augusta Energy Nigeria Limited for allegedly defrauding former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet through his company Top Oil and Gas Development Limited.
They are facing a four- count charge offence brought against them by the SFU before Justice Hakem Oshodi.
The SFU, in the charge, alleged the defendants and Augusta Energy of Geneva Switzerland (still at large) between January and December 2015, in Lagos, fraudulently induced Top Oil and Gas Development Limited, to invest about $6.3m in the supply of a 10,000 metric tonnes of Automative Gas Oil, Ago.
The police alleged the defendants converted the AGO to personal use and benefits after taking delivery of the petroleum product.
The charge reads in part : âThat you Cast Oil & Gas Ltd, Seyi Sanni, Adekunle Adebayo, Access Bank âPlc, Herbert Wigwe, Titi Oshontoki, Chinyere BishopAdigwe, Sunny Amos Offiong, Augusta Energy Nig. Ltd.âancl Tunji Amushan (-at large) between January and December, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by deceit, conspired with one another and with Augusta Energy of Geneva, Switzerland, to defraud Top Oil & Gas Development Ltd., to the tune of over 6.3miilion United States of America Dollars.â
However, during proceedings, the Managing Director of the bank and four other defendants were absent in court.
Counsel to the bankâs MD, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) informed the court of a pending application dated April 30, 2019 filed on behalf of his client challenging the jurisdiction of the court to determine the matter.
Responding, counsel to the Police, Emmanuel Jackson objected to the application.
Jackson told the court that he had not been served the application.
At this stage, the trial judge, Justice Oshodi instructed Usoro to serve him a copy in court.
Justice Oshodi however observed that the proceeding cannot go on since all the defendants were not in court.
He subsequently adjourned the case till June 3, 2019 for hearing of the preliminary objection raised by the defence.
The publishing firm has produced an impressive catalogue of authoritative legal texts authored by its proprietor, Basil Momodu, Esq.,
For inquiries, contact:
đ§ momodulawpublishing@yahoo.com
đ 07051822705
______________________________________________________________________
âYour Must-Have Legal Classicâ â 225-Page Hardback Offering The Definitive Guide To Electoral Security In Nigeria And The U.S.
Edited by Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, Ph.D; ACIArb, FIPDM, Notary Public, Awi Boluwaji, and Olumide Awoyemi, LL.M, Price: âŚ20,000 or $20 per copy
Order Your Copy Now:đ§ Email: benakollegalclassics@gmail.com,đą WhatsApp: 07038211889, đ Voice Call: 07065830466 | +2347038211889
______________________________________________________________________
âTimely And Groundbreakingâ â Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In Nigeria
A timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, đCasebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd
______________________________________________________________________
Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes âArtificial Intelligence For Lawyersâ With Free Research eBook
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
How to Order:
đ Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
đ§ Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
đ Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
______________________________________________________________________
Alexander Payne Co. Law Reports
Contact & Orders đ 0704 444 4777 | 0704 444 4999 | 0818 199 9888 đ www.alexandernigeria.com
______________________________________________________________________
The books are available for purchase at:
Online: www.educodex.com | www.selar.com | www.amazon.com | www.mikeozekhome.com
Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532
Email: educodexl@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________
Explore Nigeriaâs Constitutional System â 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
