Posted by By OLA AGBAJE and AUGUSTINA TODO on
Former President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Bashorun J. K. Randle, was on Thursday in Lagos arraigned for allegedly stealing N300 million.
• Pleads not guilty, granted bail
Former President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Bashorun J. K. Randle, was on Thursday in Lagos arraigned for allegedly stealing N300 million.
According to the five-count charge preferred against him by the Police Anti-Fraud Unit before a Lagos Chief Magistrate Court, Randle allegedly colluded with one Folashade Abimbola (now at large) to steal the money, belonging to Kayode Sunmola a director of J. K. Randle and Company Limited.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence was perpetrated in May 2006 in Lagos.
Charged along with 63-year-old Randle is a company, J. K. Randle International Limited, both of whom were accused of perpetrating sundry crimes including forgery and altering of documents.
Specifically, the accused allegedly forged a document entitled 'Letter of Appointment," dated May 5, 2006 and addressed to the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue.
According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly presented the document, with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine.
The prosecution further alleged that the action was intended to prejudice Sunmola and J. K. Randle and Company.
In addition, Randle was also accused of colluding with Abimbola to make a false written statement as officials of J. K. Randle and Company Limited with intent to defraud Sunmola.
The alleged offence is punishable under Sections 516, 407, 408, 436 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap. 17, Vol. 11 Laws of Lagos State. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to all the five-count charge and was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in the same amount.
The trial magistrate, Chief Magistrate Paul Ojo fixed February 6, 2008 for the commencement of the trial.