Azeez Folorunso/
First Nation Airline MD, Mr Kayode Odukoya, has been detained on the orders of a Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, over alleged theft of N1. 7billion.
The presiding Judge, Mojisola Dada, ordered that Odukoya be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge gave the order following Odukoya’s not guilty plea to a 4-count charge of forgery, use of false document, perjury and stealing filed against him by the anti-graft commission.
FirstNation and Bellview Airlines are joined in the suit as second and third defendants respectively.
“This case is adjourned till March 26 for the hearing of the bail application,” Justice Dada said.
Earlier, during proceedings after Odukoya had taken his plea, Mr M. S Usman the lead prosecutor for the EFCC, had asked the court to remand Odukoya.
Usman said: “My Lord, I urge the Court to remand the defendant pending the trial date.
“On three occasions prior to today‘s proceedings, the defendant had frustrated his arraignment.”
Responding, Mr Olusegun Odubela, Odukoya’s defence counsel, told the Court that he had a bail application which had been served on the prosecution.
“The defendant will not jump bail,” Odugbela said.
According to the EFCC, Odukoya committed the offences of forgery, use of false document and perjury on March 21, 2013.
The EFCC alleged that the CEO of the airlines forged the Memorandum of Loss of Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy registered as No. 33 at page 33 volume 1011 at the Lagos State Land Registry, Alausa, Lagos, in order that the document be acted upon as genuine.
The forged document was in respect of a property located at 29, Oduduwa St., Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Odukoya allegedly used the false document and also gave false information on oath concerning the loss of the certificate of occupancy at the Lagos State Land Registry.
The anti-graft commission also said that on Oct. 7, 2016, Odukoya stole and dishonestly converted to his own use N1. 7 billion belonging to Skye Bank.
The offences violate Sections 85, 86(1) 278(1)(b), 285, 361(1),(a) (b), 363 and 364(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
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