By Abidemi Samuel
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A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till October 16, 2024 to decide the judge to try a company, Absalam Murrangay Investment Limited, and two others – Sylvester Otu and Adio Muritala Atanda – alleged to have fraudulently intercepted electronic mail of N215 million to their own advantage.
The order of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court is been awaited, to decide whether the former judge who was handling the case who has been transferred out of Lagos Division of the Federal High Court should continue the trial of the defendants or the new judge should take over and start afresh.
According to eight count charge filed before the court by the combined team of Police prosecutors from Federal Criminal Investigation Department Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, it was alleged that Absalam Murrangay Investment Ltd, Sylvester Otu, Adio Muritala Atanda and others at large on or about 13th November, 2017 did conspire among themselves to commit felony to wit: Cybercrime offences by unlawfully intercepting electronic mail of a company, Josien Holding Limited, and order their business partner, GDN Nigeria Limited, to pay the sum of N215 million into Absalam Murrangay Investment Ltd account.
Also, Absalam Murrangay Investment Ltd, Sylvester Otu ‘m’, Adio Muritala Atanda ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the court were alleged to have stolen the sum of Two Hundred and Fifteen Million Naira (N215,000,000.00) from GDN Nigeria Ltd. by impersonating to be Josien Holding Ltd., their business partner
Consequently, the offences of conspiracy, interception and misdirected electronic message as well as obtaining money by false presence alleged to have been committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under Cybercrime offences and Advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act.