Alleged Perjury: Absence Of Judge Stalls Arraignment Of Fenchurch Energy Company Directors

Alleged Perjury

OpenLife Nigeria reports that the absence of Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos today stalled the planned arraignment of a limited liability company Fenchurch Energy Nigeria Limited and two of it’s directors, Babafunsho Adeyemi and Olufemi Bakare by the police for alleged perjury.

The Inspector General of Police had filed a two-count charge of conspiracy and Perjury against the limited liability company, Fenchurch Energy Nigeria Limited and the two Directors.

However, due to the absence of the Judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor who was said to be indisposed, the case has been adjourned till May 20, 2024 for the arraignment of the three defendants.

In the two-count charge marked FHC/L/265C/2024 filed before the court by the combined team of Police Prosecuting counsel from Legal/Prosecution Section, Kafaru Tinubu House, and Force Headquarters Abuja, Kyije Roland Abang and Chibuike C.Amuka, the defendants were alleged to have conspired together to commit perjury.

According to the charge, the defendants, Babafunsho Adeyemi,Olufemi Bakare and their company, sometime in February 2023, conspired together to commit perjury when they in other to mislead the Court allegedly stated on oath in suit number FHC/L/CS/319/2023 in paragraph 24 of their affidavit deposed to before the Court that “the shareholding of the 1st Plaintiff/Applicant and Bastanchury Limited in the 1st Defendant as altered by the Shares Subscription Agreement dated 15th March, 2019 ought to be registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission with the relevant documents and filings made thereon.

“But same has not been done as the 1st Plaintiff and Bastanchury Limited as at 30th January,2023 still have  50 percent shareholding each on the 1st Defendant”

Facts they knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 117 and punishable under Section 118 of the Criminal Code Act.

The two counts charge as filed before the court by the Police prosecutors state “That you Babafunsho Adeyemi ‘m’ of No. 154, Prince Ade Odedina street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Olufemi Bakare ‘m’ of No. 136 Mandela Estate,Ikoyi,Lagos and Fenchurch Energy Nigeria Ltd on or about the 22nd day of February, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: perjury and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.

“That you Babafunsho Adeyemi ‘m’ of No. 154, Prince Ade Odedina street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Olufemi Bakare ‘m’ of No. 136 Mandela Estate,Ikoyi, Lagos and Fenchurch Energy Nigeria Ltd on or about the 22nd day of February, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit the offence of perjury when you in other to mislead the Court stated on oath in suit no. FHC/L/CS/319/2023 in paragraph 24 of your affidavit deposed before this Honourable Court that “the shareholding of the 1st Plaintiff/Applicant and Bastanchury Limited in the 1st Defendant as altered by the Shares Subscription Agreement dated 15th March, 2019 ought to be registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission with the relevant documents and filings made thereon.

“But same has not been done as the 1st Plaintiff and Bastanchury Limited as at 30th January,2023 still have 50% shareholding each on the 15th Defendant” facts you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 117 and punishable under Section 118 of the Criminal Code Act.”