By Kayode Lawal, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit by the Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Satellite Television Service, TSTV, Dr. Bright Echefu, seeking to halt an investigation by the Inspector General of Police into an alleged N2 billion fraud.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the court ruled that Echefu’s request was frivolous and without merit.
Echefu had attempted to prevent the police from investigating claims of stealing and misappropriation of N2 billion, which was invested in TSTV by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Turaki had accused Echefu of fraudulently mismanaging the investment, leading to a police investigation. Echefu, however, argued that the matter was a civil contractual issue, beyond the police’s jurisdiction. He also sought to stop the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Bureau of Criminal Investigation from probing TSTV’s finances.
Justice Ekwo rejected Echefu’s claims, clarifying that the allegations against him involved criminal actions—stealing and misappropriation—which the police are empowered to investigate under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020. The court concluded that Echefu failed to demonstrate that the N2 billion transaction was purely contractual, emphasizing that criminal allegations cannot be shielded by claims of a civil matter.
The court, therefore, dismissed the suit, affirming the police’s authority to continue the investigation into the allegations against Echefu.
READ ALSO : EFCC arraigns two TSTV executives over tax evasion, money laundering
Credible News recalls that the Chief Executive Officer of TSTV, Dr Bright Echefu, and the firm’s Executive Director, Dr. Felix Nnamdi Ignoanuga were arraigned alongside another company, Briechberg Investment Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 9-count criminal charges.
One of the charges read: “On May 18, 2020 committed money laundering, bordering on tax invasion, unremitted, Company income tax and Pay As You Earn deducted from the salaries of 165 workers which are punishable under Section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012.”
The defendants were also alleged to have on May 18, 2020 diverted to their personal use N33. 9 million, N13. 5million and N19. 4 million tax money payable to the Federal Government in breach of Section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Dr Bright Ikechukwu Echefu, the first accused person was alleged to have defrauded a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Turaki Kabir Tanimu of N960 million under false pretenses.
The charge indicated that Echefu while acting as the Managing Director of Briechberg Investment Limited on May 18, 2020 with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N150 million from Tanimu who is the Managing Director of Kalsiyam Farm as loan to acquire modern equipment for his telecom company.
The EFCC said the money was paid into Briechberg Investment Limited account number 1015561485 domicile at Zenith Bank.
Credible News.ng
