By Bartholomew Madukwe

A former accountant with Chevron Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Michael Adenuga, was yesterday, brought before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over a N5 billion property theft.

At the resumed trial, a prosecution witness, Mr. S. Oyeniran, explained how the defendant (Adenuga) allegedly converted a landed property they jointly owned to his personal one.

Adenuga and his company, Covenant Apartment Complex Ltd., are facing a three-count charge of stealing, forgery and use of false documents preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

They were alleged to have fraudulently converted a 22.68 hectares of land located in the Lekki area of Lagos between February 2008 and September 2011, to their own use.

According to the charge, the property, situated at Ayetoro Ikota, in Lekki area of Lagos, was jointly owned by Covenant Sugarland Property Development Ltd., Messrs Sunday and Joseph Oyeniran.

The defendants were also accused of forging a document entitled Contract of Sale between Covenant Apartment Ltd. and Kingview Realty Ltd., to facilitate the theft.

According to EFCC, the said document was later presented by Adenuga to one of its officers, Mr. James Buzugbe, as genuine.

The offences contravened Sections 278 (1) and 285 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The witness said he was surprised to later discover that Adenuga had converted the said property to his own personal use despite meeting his financial commitment.

Trial judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 17, 2015.