Yemisi Izuora
Embattled former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nze Chidi Duru was Monday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court at Tinubu, Lagos, for alleged stealing.
Also arraigned with him by the Zone 2 Command, Nigeria Police Force, Onikan, Lagos, was a senior lawyer, Mr. Smart Iheazor.
They were charged with four counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing, breach of peace and impersonation.
They were alleged to have conspired and committed the offenses on January 11, 2017, when they, in the company of other suspects still at large, invaded the head office of the First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL) office with intent to forcefully take over the management and assets of the Pension Fund Administrator, PFA.
They were also alleged to have carted away some valuables belonging to the company.
Duru and Iheazor, lawyers of 28 and 30 years at the Bar, respectively, allegedly committed the offenses at No. 65, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja in Lagos.
Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the offenses.
Drama however, ensured before the arraignment as counsel to the accused, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), informed the court that one of his client, Chidi Duru, was at the point of slumping in the courtroom, having just been discharged from the hospital the same yesterday morning from where he was bundled to the court.
But the prosecutor objected, noting that the doctor at the police hospital, where Duru was admitted, had certified him (Duru) fit.
Magistrate Adefulire, after listening to both counsel, ordered the defendants to take their pleas.
Thereafter, counsel for the defendants persuaded the court to grant the accused bail on self-recognition noting that both were senior lawyers, while Duru is a former member of the House of Representatives. He added that their offenses were bailable.
The prosecutor, however, objected to the bail on self-recognition insisting that they should be given sureties as they reside in Abuja, not Lagos.
The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till March 9, 2017, for trial.
Oriental News reported that. Duru in the company of others still at large forcefully entered the office aided by some persons in police uniform with arms and ordered the management out before breaking into the financial controller’s office seizing important documents belonging to the company, including the laptop containing confidential information.
Nze Chidi Duru, former executive Vice Chairman of the company was removed from office alongside other executive management members, following the intervention of the National Pension Commission, PenCom, which regulates the Pensions industry on account of fraudulent transactions.
Oriental News learnt that Duru had on Wednesday, January, 11, in company of six other persons, which included another ex-parliamentarian, Chuma Nzeribe and two men in police uniform invaded the First Guarantee Pensions Limited, located at 68, Kudirat Abiola way, Oregun, Ikeja Lagos and ordered the Managing Director, Chima Akalezi out of the office at gun point, asking the staff members to henceforth take directives from him.
“Some members of the staff, skillfully whisked Johnny Ojeaga, the financial controller of the company away.
When Duru was arrested, on the orders of the Commissioner and all parties appeared before him (CP) that it was realised that Duru had earlier in the day made a written request through Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sunday Ojo for the release of six police men to help guard the premises of the company.
Ojo made an inquiry through routing posting of officers and realised that two police men are officially assigned to the company and subsequently turned down the request.
At Onikan, the police refused to grant Duru administrative bail, after it was established that he had earlier been declared wanted at one time on alleged fraudulent transactions.
A Police Official Gazette declared him wanted, alongside his sibling through whom he allegedly siphoned over N4 million belonging to the company.
It would be recalled that the National Pension Commission, PenCom had in the course of its regulatory oversight, uncovered various fraudulent acts allegedly perpetrated by Nze Chidi Duru when he was Executive Vice Chairman of the company.
Among some of the allegations against him were diverting shares of fellow shareholders of the company, usurping functions of the managing director and also diverting investment made by a South African firm, Novare Holdings, (Pty) Ltd, considered a breach of Corporate Governance and a threat to Pensioners funds administration.
The discovery prompted the regulator to exercise its intervention powers by sacking the board and appointing interim management as empowered by the Law if a breach is discovered.