Barristers & Solicitors
Malami ‘to intervene in alleged N130m fraud case’
Abubakar Malami

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami has been urged to intervene in the alleged N130 million case initiated by officials in his office against Cecil Osakwe, managing director of Abbey Signature, a property company.

In a petition to the AGF by Osakwe’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, it was alleged some workers of Federal Ministry of Justice were instigated by an official of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Asabe Waziri, to file a charge, accusing him (Osakwe) of obtaining N130 million from Waziri under false pretences.

Giwa, in the petition, dated July 13, claimed Ms. Waziri was using her link with some officials of the ministry to settle a personal disagreement.

The petition reads: “Ms Asabe Waziri had approached our client in February to purchase two units of two bedroom apartment at N130 million each, totalling N260 million.

“She made payments totalling N140 million, after which she was given possession of the flats even when she had not completed her payments.by

“Shortly after possession was delivered to her, Asabe Waziri converted one of the units into a short-let apartment in violation of the covenants of the apartment.

“Based on breaches and her mode of payment, our client approached Asabe Waziri to end the transaction and offered to refund her money, an offer Asabe refused, prompting our client to approach FCT High Court, Abuja.

“On February 17, Justice Musa Othman delivered a judgment terminating the transaction and ordered our client to refund the payment made by Asabe Waziri, further ordering that Asabe Waziri delivered possession to our client.

“Immediately, our client refunded to Asabe Waziri N150 million being the total of fees as directed by the court.

“On February 18, after the payment, Asabe Waziri through her counsel – ILS Attorneys, Barristers and Solicitors – returned the instrument of payment, saying Asabe Waziri has appealed the judgment in the Court of Appeal.

“On March 18, 2022, the judgment was enforced and Asabe Waziri was vacated from the apartment.

“Shortly after the enforcement, Asabe Waziri and her agents started contacting and employing senior police officers to intimidate and harass our client and his lawyer, Giwa Victor Esq, coercing them to issue her the title to the property even when the matter is before the Court of Appeal, with number CA/ABJ/2022.

“Sir, we were shocked that  on July 3, 2022, the media was awash with news of the arraignment of our client by the Federal Government on charges of obtaining by false pretences N130 million…

“We appeal to you that you do not allow Asabe Waziri, with her accomplice, to abuse the Office of the AGF by using it to harass and intimidate honest citizens using their resources to provide employment to Nigerians.”

Culled from The Nation