Lokoja – A Magistrate Court, sitting in Lokoja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a Kogi-based philanthropist and Managing Director of PFTN, Amb. Gabriel David Enemona.
Magistrate Abdullahi Mopah issued the warrant following Gabriel’s refusal to present himself for trial over alleged fraud involving a credit facility from a commercial bank.
The management of Ejigson Greener Synergy Ltd, a company involved in coal business in Kogi state had dragged Gabriel to court over a breach in business agreement involving the sum of N17.5 Million, being a credit facility granted the Complainant by the First City Monument Bank Plc, Anyigba Branch.
The MD/CEO of Ejigson Greener Synergy Ltd, Mr Ejigah Sunday James, had in an application on the 23rd July, 2023 informed the court that he was in a business partnership relationship with the Defendant (Ambassador David Gabriel), and at the prompting of the Defendant applied to the Anyigba Branch of FCMB for a business expansion facility in the sum of 17.5 Million Naira and after terms were settled, same was granted and paid into the account of the Complainant.
The Complainant further told the court that the Defendant subsequently deceived him into paying the said sum into sundry accounts in batches, claiming that same were been deployed into coal haulage business, the subject of their transaction.
The Complainant further informed the Court that the Defendant at all material time agreed to be responsible for the repayment of the credit facility sum to FCMB, including the accrued interest only for him to renege as soon as the first installment was due for payment.
According to Ejigah, the Defendant refused to carry out the terms of their agreement by delivering on coal haulage as agreed neither did he pay the already due installment of the said facility but rather severed ties with the Complainant, leaving the account to suffer and putting the Complainant economic activities in total jeopardy.
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, counsel to the complainant, Shadrach Ekpa, represented by Stephen Akpala, told the court that the hearing notice has been served on Gabriel since August 8 but he failed to appear in court.
Relying on Section 111 of the Kogi state administration of criminal justice law, Akpala prayed the court to issue a bench warrant to arrest Gabriel so as to compel him to appear before the court in the next sitting.
The trial judge, Abdullahi Mopah, who acceded to the prayers of the counsel, frowned at situations where litigants take court proceedings with levity and therefore ordered that a bench warrant be issued against Gabriel to compel him to appear the court.
He then adjourned the case to September 13 for further hearing.
Speaking with our reporter after the hearing, Ejigah said he is determined to follow the cause of law in bringing Gabriel to justice and reclaim his money from him.
