The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed charges against the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, his wife Chioma, and 11 others over the alleged misappropriation of N162,247,513.80 designated for a laptop supply contract for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Headquarters.
The funds, lodged in account number 0059202675 with Access Bank Plc, were allegedly diverted under the pretense of payments to Citadel Oracle Concept Limited.
The government claims the defendants knowingly laundered the proceeds of the contract, aware of its illicit origins.
The charge sheet, filed under case number FCT/HC/CR/985/24 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, lists Leo Stan Ekeh, Chioma Ekeh, Chris Eze Ozims, Oyebode Folashade, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Femi Dosumu, and Nnenna Kalu as defendants. The corporate entities involved are Admas Digital Technologies Limited, Technology Distributions Limited, and Zinox Technologies Ltd.
The 15-count charges were filed on November 26, 2024, and signed by Femi Falana (SAN) on behalf of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The charges include:
"That you, Chris Eze Ozims, Folashade Oyebode, Leo Stan Ekeh, Chioma Ekeh, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Nnenna Kalu, Femi Dosumu, Technology Distributions, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, and Zinox Technologies Limited, on or about January 30, 2013, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, jointly and severally criminally misappropriated the sum of N162,247,513.80 domiciled in account number 0059202675 with Access Bank Plc, proceeds from a Federal Inland Revenue Service laptop supply contract. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 79 and punishable under Section 390 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN Abuja (1990)."
"That you, Mr. Chris Eze Ozims and Folashade Oyebode, on or about January 30, 2012, in Abuja, criminally misappropriated N162,247,513.80 from the Access Bank account. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN Abuja (1990)."
The prosecution also accuses the defendants of fraudulently opening accounts with forged documents, aiding theft, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy, contrary to various provisions of the Penal Code and Advanced Fee Fraud Act.
Background
In June 2024, a Federal Capital Territory High Court acquitted Benjamin Joseph, Managing Director of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, of a related false petitioning charge. Justice Peter Kekemeke ruled in favor of the nolle prosequi application filed by the Attorney General of the Federation.
The case stems from a 2013 petition by Joseph, alleging a N170.3 million fraud perpetrated by a syndicate involving officials from Zinox Technologies Limited, its subsidiary Technology Distributions Limited, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, and others.
Joseph accused Leo Stan Ekeh, Chioma Ekeh, and others of forging documents to open a fraudulent Access Bank account in Citadel Oracle's name, using it to divert funds from the FIRS laptop supply contract.
Alleged Police Obstruction
Joseph claims that the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police completed investigations in 2014, implicating the suspects. However, the police allegedly refused to release the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action.
Despite directives from then-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Attorney General Abubakar Malami, the prosecution faced delays. Police prosecutors were accused of defying orders to transfer the case to the DPP, leading to allegations of shielding the suspects from justice.
The case continues to unfold, with the government pursuing charges against all defendants.