Lagos, Nigeria - Former Nigerian International Soccer star, Nwankwo Kanu, has lost 1.4 billion naira (about US$ 9.3 million) to fraudsters, allegedly aided by the Manager of an Hotel he owned, according to reports in the local Punch newspaper.
The newspaper reported on Friday that 49-year-old Ayoola Gam Ikon, the Managing Director of Hardley Suites, located at the highbrow Victoria Island, in the commercial city of Lagos, has been arrested by the police and charged to court along with another hotel staff, Oke Samuel.
Both were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s court on a 19-count charge of felony to wit and obtaining money under false pretence, popularly known as 419.
According to police sources, Ikon was arrested following a complaint by Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonna Kanu, that Ikon, between 2005 and 2012, allegedly defrauded them of the sum of about 1.4 billion naira.
They alleged that Ikon had said he would use the money to expand the existing facilities of the hotel by constructing and furnishing additional blocks of 30 suites and conference facilities.
Ikon, according to the Kanus, however, allegedly failed to use the money for the purpose and instead converted the money to his personal use.
He was also alleged to have forged a special resolution purportedly made by the board of directors of Hardley Suites Limited to obtain loans of 187 million naira, 50 million naira and 493 million naira from Skye Bank Plc.
Judicial sources alleged that the accused have therefore committed offences which contravene sections 8 (a) 1 (a) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006 as applicable in Lagos State.
The newspaper reported that the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case has been adjourned till 4 April for mentioning.
Pana 08/03/2013