Four Emirates Airlines Staff Arraigned Over Alleged N320 Million Theft

FOUR Emirates Airlines members of staff have been arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The Federal Government arraigned the suspects over alleged theft of $1.6 million (N320 million) belonging to one Prince Chu Ikem Orji.
The four members of staff are Abayomi Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia.
The accused persons were alleged to have on December 19, 2007, at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport,Lagos, stole four bags with tag number EK 428682, EK 428683, EK 650162, EK 650161, containing the sum of $1.6million, belonging to Orji, on the promise of keeping them intact for onward delivery to him at Guangzhou, China.

They were arraigned together with Emirates Airlines, Pathfinders International Ltd and Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Ltd.

The accused persons were arraigned in an 11 counts charge bordering on stealing, fraud, obtaining money under false pretence, willful destruction of evidence and failure to report an international transfer of fund.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read to them.
After the accused took their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Michael O. S. urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, pending when their bail applications would be heard.

However, the defence counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN), informed the court that the bail applications of the accused persons have been filed and the prosecution have been served.

He added that the accused persons had been granted bail by Justice Abang when they were initially arraigned before him.
He urged the court to allow the accused to continue to enjoy the bail since it has not been revoked.

However, the prosecution counsel insisted that the accused should be remanded because he has just been served with copies of the bail applications and he needed time to reply.

He disclosed further that the charge before Abang was different from the new amended charge.

However, Justice Idris, in his submissions disclosed that bail is a right of every accused person and not a privilege.

He added that an accused person is presumed innocence until contrary is proven.
Consequently, the court admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5million with one surety each.

The surety, according to the court, must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and that all the accused persons must deposit their passports with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.

The matter has been adjourned till May 25, for trial.