Alleged N2.5bn Fraud: Court strikes out charge against NBC Boss, Modibbo, Others



Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out a charge dated January 21, 2019, filed by the Federal Government against the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, Managing Director of Pinnacle Communications Dipo Onifade,  founder and Chairman Board of Directors of Pinnacle, Lucky Omoluwa and Pinnacle Communications Ltd. 

The Federal Government had filed charges against the trio and Pinnacle over allegation of fraud amounting to the tune of N2.5billion, meant for the digital switch-over programme which entails migration of telephone lines from analogue to digital platforms.

Consequently, the Federal Government through the ICPC had to file a 12-count charge against the accused persons. 

The court struck out the charge dated January 21, 2019 following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Henry Emore requesting that the charge be withdrawn. 

Emore informed the court that he was substituting the charge dated January 21, with another one dated February 21, 2019, because the first charge contained noticeable errors. 

Alex Izinyon SAN, who announced appearance for Onifade, Omoluwa and Pinnacle did not oppose the application to withdraw the first charge. 

Consequently, Justice Ogunbanjo struck out the charge dated January 21, and replaced it with the one dated February 21.

In the same vein, the court granted an order of substituted service against the NBC boss, Ishaq Modibbo (1st defendant).

The court ordered that the charge and summons be pasted on the last known address of Modibbo. 

Also, Justice Ogunbanjo directed the prosecution counsel to effect service of the charge on Onifade, Omoluwa and Pinnacle, within 48 hours, since Izinyon had earlier accepted to receive the charge sheet on their behalf.

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned to March 12, for arraignment of the accused persons. 

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