Alleged N8.8m fraud: EFCC arraigns movie producer

  The EFCC began its case against the accused before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on a seven-count charge bothering on stealing and fraudulent conversion of money.

EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Cosmas Ogwu, at the sitting on Thursday, called his first witness, Mr. Johnson Oshodi, the agency’s Investigative Officer, to tell the court the outcome of his investigation on the matter.

Oshodi told the court that he was mandated to investigate the matter following a petition sent to the commission by Steve-James Investment Limited.

He said: ``According to the petition, Onyeabor collected a total sum of N8.8 million from Steve-James Nigeria Limited in December 2008.

``The money was for the purpose of producing two movies entitled ‘Young Amazon’ and `Tribes`.

"The money was collected in installments from the complainant.

“The accused, who is the Managing Director of Igo Motion Pictures International, collected the money but failed to produce the movies.

“The commission later invited the accused person to our office in Ikoyi to defend himself against the allegations. But he could not explain what he did with the money given to him by the complainant.

"He only showed us photographs of some people on horses, which according to him was a scene from the movie." the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the witness as saying at the hearing.

Thereafter, Justice Abiru adjourned the matter to June 4 for further hearing.

 





TheNation