The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday November 2, 2012 arraigned one Christopher Madiero before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on a six count charge of stealing contrary to section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Laws of Lagos State.
Madiero is alleged to have as General Manager of B.C. Madiebo Insurance Brokers Limited defrauded the company of over N30million.
He pleaded not guilty to the six count charge when it was read to him.
Counsel to EFCC, Francis Usani then asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the accused person in prison custody.
Attempt by the defence counsel, Tony Ezeani to move an oral application for bail was rejected by the judge who said it should be filed properly.
Justice Okunnu ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody while adjourning to 16 and 17 January 2013 for trial
In a related development, the EFCC also arraigned one Jide Yinka Fagbure alias Jide Babalola before Justice Okunnu on a six count charge of conspiracy to obtain money under pretence, stealing and forgery contrary to section 467 of the criminal code cap C17 Laws of Lagos State 2003.
Fagbure and one Tunde Dayo (at large) were said to have conspired to obtain the sum of N356, 000 from one Hon Tubokun Akintelure under false pretences.
Fagbure pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Okunnu adjourned proceedings to January 23 and 24 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
Also, the EFCC has offered to assist the Nigerian Copyrights Commission, NCC in tackling rising wave of piracy and all forms intellectual property rights infringements.
The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde made the offer on Friday November 2, 2012 while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Copyright Commission led by its Director General, Mr. Afam Ezekude at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja .
He described all infringements against intellectual property rights as economic crime since they are, most of the times, induced by monetary gains.
“Those that engage in copyright infringements do not do so for the fun of it, but for monetary gains and this makes it an economic crime.” Lamorde said.
He applauded the excellent relationships between the EFCC and the NCC, and called for concerted efforts to consolidate and strengthen existing ties.
“Our relationship with your organization dates back many years ago and the two agencies have a common ground for collaboration which needs to be strengthened especially in the area of intelligence sharing,” Lamorde said.
He indicated the Commission’s willingness to make available to the NCC, any of its facilities especially the EFCC Academy which he described as one of the best in the country.
Earlier, the Director General of the NCC Mr. Afam Ezekude said they were at the EFCC to seek ways of strengthening the already existing relationship with the Commission. “We are here to upscale this relationship because the work you do have a direct impact on our work too and there is need for a better synergy.” Ezekude stressed.
He revealed that in the last six months, his organization secured 28 (Twenty Eight) convictions and seized about 11 (eleven) containers of pirated goods worth N4 billion.
The NCC boss called for greater collaboration by both agencies especially in the areas of enforcement and capacity building.
Mr. Ezekude was accompanied on the visit by Mr. A.T Kohol, director prosecution, and Mr. Jacob S. Fagbemi, director Legal, among others.
