Ruling on the bail application of one Friday Audu and his company, Genting International Limited, on allegations bordering on forgery has been adjourned till June 3, 2025, by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Monday.
Friday Audu had earlier been arrested in December 2024 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The defendants were re-arraigned on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended eight-count charge marked ID/25617C/25 and dated May 17, 2025.
Friday Audu bail application, trial
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the prosecution led by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC asked that the amended the charge be read to the defendants for their pleas to be taken.
EFCC informed the court that the defendants, sometime in 2024 in Lagos, allegedly forged a document titled Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Declaration Form, purportedly signed by one Baffale Yakubu.
Mr. Oyedepo, on behalf of the Commission, said that the first defendant, Friday Audu, and the second defendant, Genting International Limited, knowingly forged documents and falsely held themselves out as other individuals in order to perpetrate fraudulent activities.
Audu, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the second defendant, Genting International Limited who was not in the dock.
At the commencement of trial, the first prosecution witness, Nosiru Mohammed Barau testified in an Hausa language through an interpreter, Genesis Bandodo, who translated to English while being led in evidence by the EFCC Counsel before the court.
The witness who told the court that he is a Bureau De Change operator said he dropped out of Junior secondary school 2, and denied being a director or shareholder in the company.
When queried by the prosecution, he said, “I have never heard of Genting International Limited before the EFCC invited me. I am not a director. It is only my brother, Baffale Yakubu, who is a director.”
When shown the document listing him as a shareholder with 12 million shares and the email address [email protected], he answered that, “I don’t know this document. This is the first time I am seeing it. That is not my email. I don’t understand anything about shares.”
Under cross-examination by Defence Counsel, the prosecution witness admitted making a statement at the EFCC.
He confirmed that two people his lawyer, Mr. Nojeem Adeoye, and one Rabiu Ismail, had written statements on his behalf, which he signed.
In his words, “Yes, that is my signature.”
He had also stated that he had his primary school and finished his secondary school education, though under re-examination, he said he did not finish his secondary school education.
Asked if he was a director at a Bureau De Change company owned by his brother, he said yes, and that he was an assistant.
Subsequently, the trial judge adjourned the matter till tomorrow for ruling on the bail application and continuation of the trial of Friday Audu.
The defendant is currently in custody, pending a ruling on the bail application.
Arise TV was present on the ground for full coverage of the court proceedings.
