ALLEGED N1.8BILLION FRAUD:
‘Goodie Ibru: You Are a Thief, Conman & Fraudster’-EFCC
…Says ”Stop Hiding, We Will Get You Anywhere You Are’
* Reveals: ‘You Conspired to Steal the sum of N867.7 million, property of Ikeja Hotels Plc’
* PLUS How he Squandered Funds in Sheraton Hotels, Federal Palace
BY SHAKIRU AHMED/ANTI-GRAFT REPORTER, ABUJA
THE SUPPOSED good image of Goodie Ibru, a top hotelier magnate and businessman in Nigeria has turned into tatters over his accusation of allegedly stealing a staggering sum of N1.8billion in properties and cash belonging to Ikeja Hotels Plc, including ‘stock market fraud’. Goodie was slammed 11-count charge for money-laundering, theft and stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Just yesterday, EFCC declared Goodie wanted for alleged capital market fraud, money laundering, and diversion of funds.
In a statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the businessman was declared wanted for many reasons, and asked Nigerians who knew his whereabouts to report to the commission.
It was not immediately clear why the commission declared Ibru wanted after it had slammed him and three other firms with an 11-count charge in connection with conspiracy and diversion of N1.8 billion property of Ikeja Hotels Plc.
The firms listed in the suit marked as LD/1711C/2015 are Associated Ventures International Limited, IHL Services Limited and Clearview Investment Limited. According to the charge endorsed by counsel to the anti-graft agency, A.B.C. Ozioko, Ibru and the firms, between January and December, 2010, allegedly conspired amongst themselves to steal by fraudulently converting the sum of N867.7 million, property of Ikeja Hotels Plc.
Ozioko said the offence is contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C.17, Vol.11 Laws of Lagos State. The accused were also charged with intent to defraud and fraudulently converting for personal use the same amount between the same period.
Another source in EFCC said the anti-graft agency confirmed that Goodie is seeing allegedly as a “thief, conman and fraudster” for his capital market scam, looting of Sheraton, Federal Palace hotel and Ikeja hotels.
His words: “We are looking for him all over the place. He can only run, he cannot hide. We will surely arrest him soon.”
