Trial Commences in N50m Airline Loan Scam

The trial of one Hon. Imeh Albert Akpan, Director, Commodore Aviation Services on a 2-count charge of criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence, commenced on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 before Justice D. K Senchi of the FCT High Court, Abuja.

Bashir Dalhatu, a legal practitioner, while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Fatimah A. Gwaram, told the court that, Akpan informed him that, he had obtained a licence from Niger Republic to purchase an airline for which he was invited to be a shareholder by investing the sum of N8, 190, 000.00 (eight million, one hundred and ninety thousand naira).

Dalhatu stated that, the accused also told him that, there was an arrangement to finance the purchase of an aircraft for domestic flight operations in Nigeria but the bank was demanding a security deposit of N50m (fifty million naira) on the loan for its purchase.

According to Dalhatu, he provided the money on the ground that, the bank will keep the security deposit in a separate account that will generate interest in his favour, which neither him nor Akpan will access.
He further told the court that the money was provided in two trenches of N25m (twenty five million naira) each on July 1, and July 15, 2014.

 

The first prosecution witness stated that, unknown to him, the accused operates various bank accounts and fraudulently transferred the money (security deposit) to one of his bank accounts.  

 

Justice Senchi has adjourned further hearing on the matter to June 15, 2015.