John Abebe’s forced romance with EFCC

Adeleye Kunle Reports

Socialite John Abebe seems to be, ironically, getting used to being invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission due to his penchant for running afoul of the law.

John, who is the younger brother of former Nigeria’s First Lady, late Stella Obasanjo, is once again entangled with the anti-graft agency which arraigned him before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, for allegedly committing N120 million fraud.

He was arraigned alongside a former Head of First Bank Plc, in the United Kingdom, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on a six-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under pretence.

According to the EFCC, the infraction which was committed on the 4th day of June 2013 in Lagos against the property of Arsenal Technologies Limited contravenes Sections 280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Abebe was granted bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum and Oladeji granted bail in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till December 6 for the commencement of trial. Abebe’s ‘romance’ with the EFCC dates back to 2018 when he was arraigned before the same Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on 4 counts bordering on forgery and intent to mislead.

Abebe’s company Inducon had been locked in lengthy litigation against British Petroleum (BP) and Statoil over disputes arising from profit sharing in the latter’s oil exploration and production profits in Nigeria.

The EFCC in the indictment charges alleged that he knowingly forged November 30, 1995, letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd. It said Abebe allegedly attempted to pervert the course of justice by tendering the forged letter as fabricated evidence in court.

The commission also accused him of making an attempt to mislead the court by using fabricated evidence, contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003. Abebe was remanded in Ikoyi Prison at that time until he perfected his bail application. The case continued till April 2022 when it had to be adjourned again.