Alleged N1.7bn Fraud: Court Grants First Nation Air MD’s Application

Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on 13th April 2022, granted an application filed on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of First Nation Airways Limited, Kayode Odukoya, seeking the release of his passport to enable him to get it renewed by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in order for him to attend the graduation ceremony of his son at the University of Kent, United Kingdom.

Odukoya is standing trial alongside First Nation Airways Limited and Bellview Airlines Limited on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, use of false document, perjury, stealing and obtaining credit by fraud contrary to sections 85(1), 86(1), 278(1)&(b), 285(1), 313(1)(a) &(b), 361(1)(a)& (b), 363 (1) and 364(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

One of the counts reads: “Kayode Odukoya and First Nation Airways, on or about the 29th day of August 2013 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, by means of fraud, obtained the credit of Three Hundred and Seven Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand Naira, Forty-Three Kobo (N307,268,406.43) for yourselves from Skye Bank Plc (Now Polaris Bank Limited) and made the bank to incur liability by presenting a Memorandum of Loss at Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy registered as No.33 at page 33 in Volume 1011 at the Lagos State Registry, Alausa, Ikeja in respect of property being and situate at No. 29 Oduduwa Street, Ikeja GRA. Lagos State.”

Another count reads: “Kayode Odukoya, First Nation Airways Limited and Bellview Airlines Limited, on or about the 7th day of October 2016 in Lagos within, the Lagos Judicial Division, dishonestly converted to your use the sum of N1, One Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty-one Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-two Naira, Four Kobo (N742,994,962.04) only property of Skye Bank Plc.”

At today’s sitting, the defence counsel, E.D. Onyeke, moved the application dated 1st April 2022, on behalf of his client, seeking an order of the court for the release of his passport deposited with the EFCC.

“It is to enable him to renew the same in order to travel to the United Kingdom for his son’s graduation at the University of Kent on 17th May,” he added.

He further informed the court that the said application had also been served on the prosecution.

Confirming the said position, the prosecuting counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, raised no objections but left the decision to the discretion of the court.

“Out of caution, the prosecution will want the defence counsel to take a special undertaking that the defendant will be available at the next adjourned date,” he added.

Ruling on the application, Justice Dada, granted the prayers of the defence and so ordered that his passport be released to him.

“The defendant must return the international passport to the Commission on or before the 23rd of May, 2022,” the trial judge added.

The case was adjourned to 23rd and 25 May 2022 for cross-examination of the defendant by the prosecution.