ALLEGED N7.9M FRAUD: COURT ADJOURNS CASE AGAINST EX-VANGUARD STAFF

By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA
LAGOS-Further hearing in the alleged charge of stealing against former Chief Accountant of  Vanguard Media Ltd, Mr. Bhadmus Yisa, by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, suffered a setback, as his co-defendant in the case, James Unoka, was said to have taken ill.

Unoka's counsel, Mr. Samuel Agwe, told the court that his client had taken ill and was preparing for an appendicitis surgery, which prevented him from being in court for the hearing.

He asked the court for an adjournment to enable his (Unoka) attend to his  health condition.

Meanwhile, Yisa's counsel,  informed the court that Yisa had  filed an  application before his brother-judge, Justice Candide-Johnson, of the state high court, Igbosere, for the consolidation of the different charges brought against him. He said May 10 had been fixed for the hearing of Yisa's application.

The court consequently adjourned till September 11 and 12 for further hearing.

Yisa and Unoka were accused of forgery and defrauding Vanguard Media Ltd. to the tune of N7.9 million between January 2006 and June 2008 by converting the money to their personal use.

According to EFCC, the accused were said to have carried out the alleged stealing by forging different bank slips from where they fraudulently stole the money from the company.

EFCC alleged that Yisa and Unoka had between January 2006 and June 2008 in Lagos, conspired to steal by fraudulently converting N7.9 million belonging to the company, to personal use.