By Nkechi Eze
Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, convicted and sentenced an Indian, Chandra Singh to 10 years imprisonment for procurement fraud.
Recall that the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on Thursday, November 24, 2022, arraigned him before Justice Ijelu on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged retention of stolen property and bribery to the tune of N816,361,386.75 (Eight Hundred and Sixteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Six, Naira, Seventeen Five Naira)
Dele Oyewale in a signed statement made available to journalists Thursday 27 February 2025, disclosed that One of the counts reads: “That Chandra Prankash Singh, on or before 1st of January, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst in the employment of African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage for your company, CVN Engineering Limited, in order that you influence your employee to award the supply of items costing N365,757,457.00 to CVN Engineering Limited.”
Another count reads: “That Chandra Prankash Singh, on or before 1st of January, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst in the employment of African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, solicited indirectly to confer undue advantage for your company, Neo Paints Nigeria Limited, in order that you influence your employee to award the supply of items costing N243,141,638.75 to Neo Paints Nigeria Limited.”
He was also alleged to have dishonestly retained the sum of $4,150 belonging to African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts, prompting the commencement of his trial.
In the course of trial, prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, called nine witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence to prove the case against him.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, February 27, 2025, Justice Ijelu found him guilty as charged on counts 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 and sentenced him to 10 years without an option of fine. He was also ordered to make restitution of N345 million to his victim.
Singh bagged his imprisonment when he was arrested and prosecuted for retention of stolen property and bribery to the tune of N816,361,386.75( Eight Hundred and Sixteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Six, Naira, Seventeen Five Naira).
