Barely a few weeks after he was granted a presidential pardon on health grounds, businessman, Emmanuel Morah may likely not be tasting the air of free
Barely a few weeks after he was granted a presidential pardon on health grounds, businessman, Emmanuel Morah may likely not be tasting the air of freedom anytime soon.
Morah who was among the prisoners recently granted amnesty by the federal government but is yet to be released from the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services, was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court on January 26, 2018, on fuel subsidy support fund fraud, amounting to N789.6 million.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, he filed an appeal, which was dismissed on October 26, 2018, by Justice Shagbaore Ikyegh, who led a panel of three justices of the appellate court. And so he remained behind bars until his pardon. But now, Morah is facing another fraud charge in which he was accused of obtaining the sum of N24 million, from one Alhaji Kayode Kasumu, the chairman/chief executive officer of Beauty and Fragrance International Limited, under a false representation that he will use the money to complete a property at No. 10 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, within two months, and rent part of it to him.
Morah who operated under the trade names Rocky Nigeria Limited, Rocky Oil Limited, Rocky Energy Limited and Down Stream Energy Sources, was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos State presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi. Morah was also alleged to have issued a Diamond Bank cheque, dated October 2, 2016, with monetary value of N10m, with account name, Rocky Energy Limited, in favour of Beauty and Fragrance International Limited, which was rejected and dishonoured on grounds of insufficient funds in the account.
The offences committed were contrary to and punishable under sections 1 (1) (a), (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006; and sections 1 (1) (b), (2), and section 2 of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, CAP D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He has however pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Akintayo Aluko admitted bail to him in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum but however ordered that he be remanded in the NCS custody till the perfection of the bail terms.
