Briton flees Nigeria after being granted bail in fraud case involving Imo traditional ruler

BRTISH businessman Syed Mohammed Kamran who is standing trial in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a traditional ruler in Imo State of N10,320,000 is thought to have absconded and fled the country.

 

Mr Kamran was arrested and arraigned in 2016 on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining N10,320,000 by false pretence from a traditional ruler in Imo State, Igwe Ubochi Chuks Ubochi. According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the fraud through an elaborate diesel local purchase order scam.

 

Yesterday, Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay of a Lagos high court, sitting in Igbosere was, informed by the Lagos State government that Mr Kamran has escaped.  Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sarumi, told Justice Nicol-Clay that Mr Kamran is believed to have fled abroad after he pleaded not guilty earlier on in the trial, after which he was granted bail.

 

Mr Sarumi said this following the failure of Mr Kamran’s surety, Nurudeen Ekundayo, to produce the Briton for his trial. Immediately after Mr Kamran was granted bail, he missed subsequent court dates, which prompted the judge to summon Mr Ekundayo to show cause as to why the Briton was absent from court.

 

In response, Mr Ekundayo’s counsel, Mrs Adeniyi, told Justice Nicol-Clay that her client was ill and had sent his eldest son to inform the court that he was on admission at a general hospital. Justice Nicol-Clay, however, gave him three options before adjourning the case until March 11.

 

Justice Nicol-Clay ruled: “He has three options - produce the defendant, forfeit his bail bond or be ready to serve his time. The medical report says he is hypertensive and that shouldn’t stop him from appearing.”

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