The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four defendants for fraud involving over N900 million Point of Sale (POS) transactions.
The Commission said in a statement that Naankang Dawan was arraigned along with his companies – Taen Nigeria Ltd and Lataen Engineering Ltd; and Moruf Tunji Olukanmi, at the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State.
EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, who signed the statement, said the defendants were arraigned on 31 counts of “conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining N908, 108, 974.52 (Nine Hundred and Eight Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Four Naira and Fifty Two Kobo) by false pretence.”
The Commission alleged that Dawan who inherited some companies including a petrol station from his family, connived with some staff members of First Bank, including Moruf Tunji Olukanmi (fourth defendant), to defraud customers using a POS terminal allocated to him.
The statement from the anti-graft agency further read: “Count two of the charge reads, “That you, Naankang Dawan being the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Taen Nigeria Limited, Taen Nigeria Limited, Doyin Adesanya (at Large), Samuel Temitope Falese (at large), Ebenezer Oni Kehinde (at large) and Mariam Babatunde Olabisi (at large) between October 2017 to November 2017 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, manipulated First Bank of Nigeria Plc Point of Sale (POS) terminal issued to Taen Nigeria Limited and by so doing fraudulently credited Tean Nigeria Limited Account Number: 2025956973 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Plc with the sum of N908,108,974.52 (Nine Hundred and Eight Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Four Naira and Fifty Two kobo) only and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 30(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015”.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them before the trial judge, D. V Agishi, according to the statement.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel Benjamin Manji asked for a trial date and that the suspects be remanded at the Correctional Centre pending trial.
But defense counsel, A.G Yirvoms informed the Court of a pending application for the bail of his clients.
Justice Agishi adjourned the case till July 26, 2021, for consideration of bail application, and October 6, 2021, for trial.
