Court orders police to declare Paz Oil director, Ibrahim Shehu, others wanted over alleged $400,000 fraud

A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday granted the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) an Order to declare the Directors of Paz Oil Nigeria Limited; Ibrahim Shehu Tenimu and Jemima Monosoko Shehu wanted for allegedly conspiring to defraud Dr. Kamoru Ibitoye Yusuf, owner of Kam Steel Nigeria limited of $400,000.

The Order followed a series of attempts by law enforcement agencies to prosecute Ibrahim Shehu Tenimu, the prime suspect, all to no avail as he remains at large.

It could be recalled that a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin had in August remanded Esther Shehu and David Kpanaki at the Federal Correctional Centre following a petition written by Dr. Yusuf vide a direct complaint on July 18, 2023, through Tafa Ahmed & Co Solicitors & Advocates.

Read Also: ECOWAS suspends Niger from regional bodies

The defendants were brought to the court on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, screening an offender, obstruction of justice and obtaining by false pretence.”

 The offences contravened Sections 97, 322, 167 and 148 of the Penal Code Law and 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud/Other Related Offences Act Cap. A6 LFN

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), Ibrahim Tenimu Shehu and Jemima Monosoko Shehu, now at large conspired with Kpanaki, who identified himself as the director of Paz Oil, to fraudulently sell a vessel MT ORYX TRADER as MT REMOS to the petitioner. That the suspects

“dishonestly presented the vessel as free and not subject to any administrative detention, knowing fully well that it is a subject of a court Order.

That “on the account of fraudulent presentation by Ibrahim Tenimu Sheu, Jemima Monosoko and Kpanaki David cause financial loss to the petitioner to the tune of $400,000 in addition to the purchase price of the vessel and absconded”.

Read Also: No ransom paid to rescue kidnapped Sokoto-bound prospective youth corps members — NYSC

The charge sheet further added that when the suspects were later tracked by a team of Police operatives to Abuja for possible arrest, the second accused, ‘’Esther Shehu, obstructed the officers by dishonestly calling the accomplice who claimed to be the DPO of the jurisdiction who deceitfully led the operatives to leave the premises with a promise that the suspect Tenimu Shehu Ibrahim (at large), will meet them at the police station by 12 pm, however, the prime suspect was whisked out of the premises by Kpanaki in a Blue Tinted Toyota Corolla to an unknown destination”, the sheet added.

Read Also: Kano govt agrees to pay demolished shops owners N3bn

Since the arrest and detention of his accomplices, the prime suspect has remained at large. Consequently, the Prosecutor leaving no stone unturned have applied that the suspect at large be declared wanted and a warrant of arrest issued for their apprehension. The prayer was granted by the High Court of Kwara State against the fugitives. All hands are on deck to ensure that the suspects are arrested to face the music of their inglorious act. Meanwhile, the duo of Esther Sheu and David Kpanaki are still in detention.