A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the Director-General of the National Airspace Management Authority, NAMA, Mr. Matthew Pwajok for alleged disobedience to an order by the court.
Justice Babs Kuewunmi made the arrest order following an application by Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN) counsel to the third and eighth defendants, at the resumed hearing of a N2.8 billion fraud charge against a former NAMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, and 11 others filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC.
The defence counsel in the application alleged that Pwajok disregarded a July 2 subpoena issued by the court which commanded him to appear and produce the documents requested by both defendants.
Hence, Justice Kuewunmi directed the Lagos State Police Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to ensure Pwajok is arrested and brought to court.
Abdulsalam alongside 11 others are being prosecuted in court for the alleged offence.
Also being prosecuted are; Nnamdi Udoh, former Managing Director (still at large), Adegorite Olumuyiwa, General Manager, Procurement; Agbolade Segun, General Manager, Finance; Clara Aliche, Director Finance; Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.
They were alleged to have conspired and stolen the amount from NAMA.
One of the charges reads “That you, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Nnamdi Udoh (still at large) Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, on or about August 19, 2013, in Lagos, with intent to defraud conspired to induce the NAMA to deliver N2,847,523,975.00 billion, to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Limited under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the said Agency.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.
However, the judge adjourned further proceedings till January 10 and 11, 2023.
