In a significant legal move, Nigeria’s current Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has authorized renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana to file fraud charges against Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Group, his wife Chioma, and eight other individuals. The charges stem from an alleged N162 million fraud linked to a laptop supply contract with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
This legal action comes after years of delays caused by the previous AGF, Abubakar Malami, who had shielded the suspects from prosecution. Malami’s intervention had frustrated investigations, but now Fagbemi has given the green light to proceed with the charges.
The case involves the diversion of funds intended for the laptop supply to FIRS. The accused individuals are accused of misappropriating over N162 million through fraudulent activities, including using a fake account to transfer the funds. The charges, filed under case number FCT/HC/CR/985/24, involve Leo Stan Ekeh, his wife Chioma, and several other associates. Three companies—Zinox Technologies, Technology Distributions Limited, and Admas Digital Technologies Limited—are also named.
The charges allege that the suspects knowingly diverted funds from an account at Access Bank, which was supposed to be used for the contract. The accusations include criminal misappropriation and money laundering. One charge in particular highlights how the accused individuals, including Chris Eze Ozims, Folashade Oyebode, and others, misappropriated the N162 million through fraudulent transactions.
The legal battle over this case dates back to 2013 when Benjamin Joseph, the Managing Director of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, accused Zinox officials of hijacking a contract awarded to his company by FIRS. Joseph claims that Zinox, along with its partners, used forged documents and illegal bank activities to divert the contract funds for their own gain.
In an unexpected twist, the previous AGF, Malami, used his discretionary powers to block the prosecution of the suspects, despite clear evidence. This action stalled the case for years. However, with Fagbemi’s intervention, Falana now has the authority to move forward with the prosecution, offering hope that justice will be served for those who were defrauded in the scandal.
This case marks an important moment in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption, as the public awaits the outcome of this high-profile fraud case.
