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ABUJA – A Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered the arrest of the Chief Executive of a security company, Briech Intelligence Fusion Limited, Dr. Bright Echefu in respect of a fraud allegation to the tune of $651,280.
Echefu, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Satellite Television (TSTv), is alleged to have defrauded BCG NEEDS Company of the said amount under the pretence of supply of drones and accessories.
The Magistrate granted the request for a warrant of Echefu’s arrest after the motion was moved by John Paul Eze Esq. of O. J Law Consult.
Justice Akweke, held, “Upon hearing and listening to the Complainant counsel, John Paul C. Eze Esq. praying for the following: An order of court applying that bench warrant be issued against the defendants (Echefu and his company) to compel their appearances before the court in line with Section 113 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
“It is hereby ordered that a bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendants.
“The Commissioner of Police FCT Abuja, is accordingly ordered to arrest defendants and bring them before this court on or before next adjourn date to enable them stand their trial” the xourtt ordered.
Recall that Echefu had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Ctmrimes Commission, EFCC, over allegation of tax evasion, money laundering and advanced fee fraud.
The case has been adjourned to 9th of December 2024.
The complainant, BCG NEEDS told the court that Echefu, under false pretence used Briech Intelligence Fusion Ltd, his company, to request for supply of drones and accessories from the complainant worth $651,280.00.
The request, according to the complainant, was done via a Local Purchase Order with Ref:BIFC/LPO/TS/ABJ/088106, dated 21st of October, 2022, to the complainant.
“That after the supply of the drone and accessories by the complainant, the defendant became incommunicado and refused to pay the complainant since 21st of October, 2022 till today inspite of several demand letter and verbal demand.
The complainant averred that “The defendants criminally converted the drone, accessories and the sum of $651,280.00 under false pretence of doing business with the complainant.
In another charge before the Federal High Court marked FHC/ABJ/CR/254/2023, Echefu, Igboanuga, TSTV and another company, Briechberg Investment Ltd, were listed as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
In the charge, Echefu and Igboanuga were said to have on May 18, 2020, committed money laundering bordering on tax evasion, unremitted VAT, company income tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deducted from the salaries of 165 workers punishable under Section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012.
They were alleged to have on May 18, 2020, diverted to their personal use N33. 9m, N13. 5m and N19. 4m tax money payable to the federal government in breach of section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Bright Echefu, on his part, was said to have defrauded Turaki Tanimu of N969m under false pretence.
Tanimu is a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and was present in court to witness the arraignment of the defendants.
The charges further stated that Echefu, while acting as the Managing Director of Briechberg Investment Ltd on May 18, 2020, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N150m from Tanimu, who is the Managing Director of Kalsiyam Farm, as a loan to acquire modern equipment for his telecom company.
The money was said to have been paid into Briechberg Investment Limited with account number 1015561485 domiciled at Zenith Bank.
On the same day, Echefu was said to have obtained another N380m paid into the same account for the same purpose, while another N400m was also allegedly received by him on the same day and for the same purpose from Tanimu who is also the MD of BYI General and paid into the same account.
On May 18, 2020, Turaki, while acting as Managing Director of K. T Turake made two payments of N15M each into the Briechberg Investment Limited bank account belonging to Dr Bright Echefu for the same purpose.
After the charges were read to them, the duo who were docked pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, had told the court that the matter was for arraignment when it was called upon.
The defence counsel, Eyitayo Fatigun on behalf of the two defendants, asked the court to grant his client bail.
“In October 2023, we filed for a bail application for the defendants. It is a nine-paragraph affidavit deposed to. The further affidavit was filed on June 5. We plead that your lordship admits the defendants to bail,” he pleaded.
Tahir, however, vehemently objected to this. He asked the court not to grant the defendants bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
He said the defendants pose a flight risk and have been evading arrest since June 2023, which was when the charges were first brought against them.
“Following their not guilty plea, the defendants should be remanded in prison. They have been evading arraignment since last year.
“This charge was brought against them on June 9, 2023. It will be one year in three days my Lord and we have not been able to arraign them.
“We ask for an accelerated hearing,” the prosecution said.
Justice Ekwo, however, asked Tahir if the EFCC had previously granted the defendant administrative bail which he responded in the affirmative.
In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo granted the duo bail adopting EFCC’s administrative bail conditions as granted to them previously.
“What I will do is to allow the terms of the administrative bail you granted them to continue.”
The judge, however, stated that the defendants are not allowed to travel out of the country without the permission of the court while immigration must be notified of the seizure of their international passports.
“The defendants shall not leave or travel out of the jurisdiction of this court without prior knowledge of the court,” Justice Ekwo pronounced.
He warned that any breach of the bail conditions or absence in court would automatically lead to the revocation of their bail and to remain in custody throughout the trial period.
“If they are absent from court in any of these days I will not hesitate to remove bail and they will remain in confinement till the end of the trial.”
