Matilda Omonaiye/
Trial awaits a company and four of its officials on February 14, 2023, for allegedly obstructing the investigation of the Federal Competition and Protection Commission, says a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Court adjourned the trial of Cashigo International Limited and its officials following a 5-count charge.
The four officials arraigned were identified as Liu Xu David, Olayinka Akintunde Ojomo, Emeka Odom, and Lauretta Stanley Akwuru
The 5-count charge filed before the court reads:
“Cashigo International Limited, Liu Xu (David) (M), Olayinka Akintade Ojomo (M), Emeka Odom (M) and Laurratta Stanley Akwuru (F) at various times between March 11, 2022, and March 22, 2022, at Ikeja, Lagos did prevent, impede and obstruct the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to obtain and exchange information required, but they undermine, compromise or interfere with the investigation and soliciting, offering, giving and receiving financial gratification for obtaining such information; and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 110 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
“It was further alleged that Cashigo International Limited, Company Liu Xu (David) 1 (M) and Olayinka Akintade Ojomo at various times between March 11, 2022, and March 22, 2022, at Ikeja, in the course of conducting and in furtherance of their employment, or business engaged in coercion, undue pressure and unfair tactics, including but not limited to, harassment, intimidation, threat making and publishing an untrue statement, unsubstantiated facts and unproven malicious criminal and other allegations about certain persons/customers to them and third parties with the intention to cause apprehension, anxiety, reputational damage, and by these to coerce them into making certain payments or comply with their requests and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under Section 155 of the said Act.
“Cashigo International Limited, Liu Xu (David) (M), Olayinka Akintade Ojomo (M) and Emeka Odom (M) at various times between March 11, 2022, and March 30, 2022, at Ikeja, Lagos during the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission provided information which they knew to be false and misleading and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 112 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”
In count five of the charge one of the defendants – “Lauretta Stanley Akwuru on March 28, 2022, at Ikeja, Lagos, without reasonable cause failed and refused to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in compliance with a lawfully issued Summons to Attend and Produce dated March 25, 2022, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”
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