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Court orders arrest of Dana Group MD over alleged N1.3bn fraud
Court orders arrest of Dana Group MD over alleged N1.3bn fraud
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Group for failing to appear in court to face trial.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order after Ranesh repeatedly refused to attend court proceedings despite being served with the charges.
Justice Egwuatu said under Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court has the authority to issue an arrest warrant for any defendant who failed to appear in court as required.
“The 1st defendant is bound to appear before the court and if he does not, the court can issued warrant for his arrest.
“Accordingly relying on the said provision, I hereby issued a warrant of arrest for the arrest of the 1st defendant
“The defendant shall appear before this court on 13th of January, 2025, before any objection can be taken,” he said.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 13, 2025 for hearing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government, through its lawyer, Mojisola-Okeya Esho, had, on Oct. 10, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Dana Air.
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Esho had argued that Ranesh had refused to appear for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF).
But the defence lawyer, B. Ademola-Bello, disagreed with Esho.
He argued that they had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and that the prosecution had already been served.
Esho, on her part, objected to taking the preliminary objection on the ground that the defendants ought to be arraigned first before the court could entertain any other application.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Nov. 4 (today) for arraignment and/or hearing of preliminary objection.
NAN reports that the AGF had filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two others.
In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2021 and filed by Moshood Adeyemi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd were joined as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
In count one, Ranesh and the two companies, alongside others at large, were alleged to have committed a felony between September and December 2018 within the premises of DANA Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina.
They were alleged to have conspired to remove, convert and sell four units of industrial generators “i.e. three (3) units Ht of 9,000 KVA and 1 unit of 1,000 KVA; all valued at over N450 million, which form part of the Deed of Asset Debenture that were charged as collateral security for a bond issued in your favour, which Deed is still subsisting at all material times.”
In count three, the defendants and others at large at House No. 116, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo-Lagos between April 7th and 8th, 2014, were alleged to have conspired to fraudulently divert the sum N864 million.
The money was said to be part of the bond proceeds from Ecobank meant for resuscitation of production at Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina for other unapproved uses.
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In count five, the defendants and others at large were alleged to have “conspired to fraudulently remove and transfer to one Atlantic Shrimpers Account No: 0001633175 with Access Bank and divert the sum of N60,300,000 (Sixty Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira).”
The money was said to be part of the bond proceeds from Ecobank meant for resuscitation of production at Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina for other unapproved uses.
The cumulative sum of the amount involved in the charge is N1, 374, 300, 000.
All the offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
NAN observes that Ranesh had not appear in court since the case commenced before Justice Egwuatu.
When the case was called on Monday, Ademola-Bello informed the court that on the last adjourned date, the court directed the parties to file a written address on the points of law regarding Sections 221 and 396(2) of the ACJA, 2015.
“In compliance, we filed our written address on 31st of October, 2024. Upon receipt of prosecution’s response, we also filed a reply on points of law dated 31st day of October, 2024.
“Subject to the convenience of the court, we are ready to proceed,” he said.
Esho, who appeared for the AGF, confirmed being served.
However, Justice Egwuatu asked Ademola-Bello the whereabouts of Ranesh.
“Why are the defendants absent,” the judge asked.
The defence lawyer said Ranesh was not in the country and that the other two defendants are statutory bodies of which Ranesh is their managing director.
Ademola-Bello submitted that he was of the view that the jurisdictional issues raised in their preliminary objection should be addressed first.
“Are we playing here. Where is the respect for the court when the people you are defending are not in court?” the judge asked.
But the lawyer responded that Section 266 of the ACJA, 2015, gives provision for a defendant who is not on court.
“We urge the court to be guided by this provision,” he said.
Justice Egwuatu, who gave his ruling, ordered that Ranesh be arrested and brought to the court in the next adjourned date.
Court orders arrest of Dana Group MD over alleged N1.3bn fraud
(NAN)
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200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
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