The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday brought two companies, JBA Advisory Ltd. and Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd., before Justice Olubusola Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court over alleged fraudulent retention of funds totaling N47.9 million and $300,000.
The companies faced two counts bordering on retention of stolen property. The first count accused JBA Advisory Ltd. of dishonestly retaining N47.9 million in its Providus Bank account between August 4 and November 23, 2023. The EFCC alleged that the funds belonged to Dargos Homes Investment Limited.
The second count charged Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd. with dishonestly retaining $300,000 on September 30, 2022, in its Zenith Bank domiciliary account, also purportedly belonging to Dargos Homes Investment Limited.
JBA Advisory Ltd., represented by its Managing Director, Mr. Akintola Adesanmi-Ayodele, pleaded guilty to the charge. However, Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd., represented by its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Adesolabomi Adedeji, pleaded not guilty.
Following the not-guilty plea, the prosecution, led by Ms. Hannatu Kofar-Naisa, called EFCC operative Mr. Lawal Hamza as a witness to review the facts of the case against JBA Advisory Ltd. The prosecution also tendered several documents as evidence before the court.
Kofar-Naisa requested a trial date to proceed with the case against Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd. The EFCC stated that the alleged offences contravene Section 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Okunuga adjourned the case to June 17 for a report on the plea bargain sought by JBA Advisory Ltd. and the commencement of trial for Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd.
