Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against the Chief Executive Officer of GMC logistics, Chief Sonny Allison, for his failure to appear in court to face his trial over an alleged N72 million fraud.

Chief Allison was arraigned before the court on June 15, 2023, by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Justine Enang, contravene sections 8(a) and 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The offences, he said, are also contrary to section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act, 2011) as amended in 2012 as well as section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act, Cap 011, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

During his arraignment, the prosecutor told the court that he committed the offences in May, 2021.

He told the court that the defendant used his company to fraudulently obtain the sum of N72 million from a company, Sthenic Capital Management Limited, with the pretence of using the money to execute a contract, which he had gotten a Local Purchase Order (LPO) approval for.

He was also accused of converting the said sum to his personal use, instead of using it for the purpose he obtained it.

The prosecutor also informed the court that the defendant had on February 17, 2022 issued two Sterling Bank Plc’s Cheques numbered 00104770 and 00104772, valued N10 million and N820, 819, 10, respectively, which were rejected when presented at bank, due to insufficient funds.

However, the defendant denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on his not guilty plea, the court admitted him to bail in some terms and conditions.

However, the defendant was alleged to have failed to be in court on each of the adjourned dates.

Consequently, at the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, neither the defendant nor his lawyer were in court.
This development forced the prosecutor, Mr. Enang, to pray the court for a bench warrant against him.

Mr. Enang said: “Since the defendant was granted bail, he refused to attend proceedings in court, despite several adjournments and notices issued thereto.

“I hereby urge the court to revoke the defendant’s bail.”
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening the prosecutor and perused through the court’s record, acceded to prosecutor’s request.

The judge consequently revoked the defendant’s bail and issued a warrant of arrest against him.
Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned to June 14, 2024.