Benson Eyinnah with his plaque after his investiture as a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation in 2017
A Federal High Court,Lagos has granted bail to one Mr. Benson Royal Enyinnah, a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, who was charged before the Court, for the offence of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and fraud to the tune of N87, 557, 600 million.
Justice Akintoye Aluko on Friday admitted Eyinnah to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge further ordered that one of the sureties must be owner of a fully developed property with verifiable title documents within the Court’s jurisdiction. In addition the court heald that the other surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 and above, or, a businessman with well funded account with a balance not less than the bail sum .
The judge also ordered that the sureties must have evidence of three years tax payment. And that the defendant should deposit his international passport with the court’s Registrar.
Justice Aluko while adjourning the matter till October 21, for trial, ordered that the defendant continue to be in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till when the bail terms are fulfilled.
The defendant who claim to be an oil and gas marketer, was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, by men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, in a charge marked FHC/L/451c/22, on August 24, for the alleged offences.
He was arraigned alongside his wife, Nneka Glory Benson, said to be at large, and his three companies.
The companies which he allegedly used to defraud his victims are: Gloroy Energy Company Limited; Petroyal Energy Company Limited and Glonnek Energy Resources.
According to the charge, Eyinnah was alleged to have defrauded Obimma Benedicta Chinazor; Chioma Ifeanyichukwu; Vivian Ifeoma Ndukwu; Chidiebere A. Okoli, and Greenland Energy Limited, in the sums of N27, 477, 600 million; N15. 5 million; N28,980 million; N15. 6 million and N20.850 million respectively.
On his arraignment, the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, told the court that the defendant and his wife who is said to be at large, committed the offences between 2021 and May, 2022.
The offences committed is said contravened Sections 8 (a) and 1(1)(a), (b) and (c); of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Aluko while delivering ruling on the defendant’s bail application on Friday, admitted him to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge further ordered that one of the sureties must be owner of a fully developed property with verifiable title documents within the court’s jurisdiction, while the that other surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 and above, or, a businessman with well funded account with a balance not less than the bail sum.
