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EFCC arraigns Stella Obasanjo’s brother, John Abebe, for alleged forgery

Published

6 years ago

July 26, 2018

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned a businessman , John Abebe , for alleged forgery .Abebe , who is a younger brother to the late former First Lady , Stella Obasanjo , was arraigned on four counts before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja .

The EFCC , in the charges , claimed that Abebe “ knowingly forged” a November 30 , 1995 letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon ( Nigeria ) Ltd .

The anti – graft agency claimed that the businessman “ illegally inserted ” into page 2 of the said letter “ the following statement: “ Also note that the ‘ Buy- Out Option ’ only applies to the pre – production stage of the NPIA . The $ 4 m buy – out is thus irrelevant from production of oil in any of our fields . ”

According to the EFCC , Mr . Abebe also attempted to “ pervert the course of justice ” by tendering the allegedly forged November 30 , 1995 letter “ as a fabricated evidence ” in court , in Suit No . FHC / L /CS / 224 / 2010 between Dr . John Abebe , Inducon Nigeria Limited and Statoil Nigeria Limited .

The EFCC accused him of making an attempt to “ mislead the court ” by using fabricated evidence , contrary to Section 120 ( 2 ) of the Criminal Code Cap C 17 , Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 .

The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo , told the court that by attempting to pervert the course of justice , Abebe violated Section 126 ( 2 ) of the Criminal Code Cap C 17 , Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 .

The prosecutor added that forgery was a violation of Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C 17 , Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 .

But when the charges were read to the businessman on Thursday , he pleaded not guilty .

Justice Mojisola Dada , while adjourning the case to enable the defence counsel , Mr . Uche Nwokedi ( SAN ) , to file an application for his client ’ s bail , ordered that Abebe be remanded in Ikoyi Prison .