By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ARJI DONALD
A former Chief Accountant with the Vanguard Media Ltd, Mr. Badmus Yisa Abiodun and a senior regional officer with the company James Unoka were yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody after they were arraigned with 16-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of the company’s money by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Badmus and Unoka, who were docked before Justice Lateefa Bisola Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, were accused of forgery and defrauding Vanguard to the tune of N7.9 million between January 2006 and June 2008 by converting the money for their personal use.

According to the EFCC which brought them to court,  the duo were said to have carried out the theft by forging different bank slips from where they fraudulently made away with the money.

Badmus, before he was booted out of Vanguard, was the Chief Accountant while Unoka was a regional sales representative of Vanguard.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. Abba Mohammed, who brought them to court, alleged that Badmus and Unoka had between January 2006 and June 2008 in Lagos, conspired to steal, by fraudulently converting a total sum of N7.9 million belonging to the company, to their personal use.

Badmus Yisa Abiodun

Besides the theft and conspiracy to steal offences brought against them, the duo were also accused of forging two United Bank of Africa (UBA) deposit slips No. 3812385 and 6633835 in the sum of N42, 915 and N254,200 respectively.

According to the anti-graft agency, their offences are contrary and punishable under Sections 390(7), 467 (2) and 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Vol. 2,  Laws  of Lagos State 2003.

The 16-count charge The 16-count charge read in part : Count 1

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particulars of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 27th of January 2006 and 20th of September 2006 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 2

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particulars of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 27th of January 2006 and 20th of September 2006 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud ,fraudulent converted the sum of N1,250,000.00 (one million two hundred and fifty thousand naira) property of Vanguard Media Limited.

Count 3

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particulars of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 5th of October 2006 and 21st December 2006 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 4

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particulars of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 5th of October 2006 and 21st December 2006 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud, fraudulent converted the sum of N1,460,000.00 (one million four hundred and sixty thousand naira) property of vanguard media limited.

Count 5

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 8th of January 2007 and 4th of May 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 6

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 8th of January 2007 and 4th of May 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud, fraudulent converted the sum of N800,000.00 (Eight hundred thousand naira) property of vanguard media limited.

Count 7

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 1st of June 2007 and 31st of August 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 8

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 1st of June  2007 and 31st of August 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud, fraudulent converted the sum of N1,900,000.00 (One million, nine hundred thousand naira) property of vanguard media limited.

Count9

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 12th of September  2007 and 27th of December 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 10

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 12th of September  2007 and 27th of December 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud, fraudulent converted the sum of N1,298,000.00 (One million, two hundred and ninety eight thousand naira) property of vanguard media limited.

Count 11

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 9th of January 2008 and 16th of January 2008 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit; stealing money property of vanguard media limited.

Count 12

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to steal contrary to Section 390(7) of the Criminal Code cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James between the 9th of January 2008 and 16th of June 2008 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud, fraudulent converted the sum of N1,200,000.00 (One million, two hundred thousand naira) property of vanguard media limited.

Count 13

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to commit felony to wit; forgery contrary to section 516 of the criminal code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James on or about the 7th of November 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud  Vanguard Media Limited conspired to forge a United Bank for Africa Plc deposit slip NO. 6633835 purporting to be the value of N254,200,00( two hundred and fifty four thousand two hundred naira) dated 7th November 2008

Count 14

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to commit felony to wit; forgery contrary to section 516 of the criminal code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James on or about the 7th of November 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud  Vanguard Media Limited forged a United Bank for Africa Plc deposit slip NO. 6633835 dated 7th November 2007 purporting to be in the value of N254,200,00( two hundred and fifty four thousand two hundred naira).

Count 15

Statement of Offence

Conspiracy to commit felony to wit; forgery contrary to section 516 of the criminal code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James on or about the 28th of November 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud  Vanguard Media Limited conspired to forge a United Bank for Africa Plc deposit slip NO. 3812385 purporting to be in the value of N42,915,00( Forty two thousand, Nine hundred and fifteen naira) dated 28th November 2007

Count 16

Statement of Offence

Forgery contrary to section 467(2)(1) of the criminal code Law cap C17. Vol 2. Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Particular of Offence

Bhadmus Yhisa Abiodun and Unoka James on or about the 28th of November 2007 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial division with intent to defraud  Vanguard Media Limited forged a United Bank for Africa Plc deposit slip NO. 3812385 dated 28th November 2007 purporting to be in the value of N42,915,00( Forty two thousand, Nine hundred and fifteen naira).

Moment their pleas were taken they pleaded not guilty to all the count.

While Unoka’s counsel informed the court of his pending bail application, Badmus lawyer said rather than asking for bail, he would rather want the court to take another matter pending before the court together.

The trial Judge, Justice Okunnu thereby fixed the hearing of bail application for March 13, 2012 and trial for May 8, 2012.

While Badmus was clad in a brown T-shirt with and Jeans trousers with a pair of sandals, Unoka wore a native dress with a black shoe to match.