The Chairman/Managing Director of Mashuchun International Ltd, Mr. Anthony Okpala has declared that he and his company are innocent of fraud charges brought against them by the the EFCC and DCP Ibrahim Zango.
Mr. Okpala was reacting to an online publication(https://hubnaija.com.ng/fraud-court-remands-man-in-correctional-facility-of-choice/ ) which read in part
“Justice Mojisola Dada has remanded a man, Anthony Okpala, in the correctional facility of his choice pending the hearing of the $177,000 fraud brought against him”.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Okpala alongside his company, Mashuchun International Limited, on a two-count charge before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja”.
The response came through Okpala’s Counsel, Kolapo Gbadamosi, Esq. by a letter he sent to the Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu dated 20th February, 2020.
Barr. Kolapo observed that the plentiff, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zango who entered into a bussiness agreement with Okpala over purchase and supply of ceramic tiles and stoves was surprised on how the later delivered the goods with ease and therefore sought to be made a director in Mashunchun International which Mr. Okpala declined.
Subsequently, Mr. Zango using the powers of his office and in concert with some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested Anthony Okpala in 2016 and charged him to court (Magistrate Court 9, Ebute meta, Lagos) with allegations of defrauding him. The Lagos State Department of Public Prosecutions in a letter addressed to the court and signed by Mr. Y.G. Oshoala, Director of DPP advised the court that Mr. Anthony has no case to answer which led the Magistrate Omisora to strike out the suit on 23rd of November, 2016.
The letter equally revealed that following harrasments and infringement of Mr. Anthony Okpala by officers of the Nigeria Police Force led by DCP Ibrahim, Mr. Okpala on 21rd October, 2019 secured a Lagos High Court judgment with suit no. LD/8129MFHR/19 restraining Mr. Zango, the Nigeria Police Force and Economic and Financial Crimes from infringing on his right and further awarded the applicant(Anthony Okpala) the sum of N5,000000 as compensation and open apology to him by the respondent (Ibrahim Zango)
Moreover, our correspondent who spoke with Mr. Anthony Okpala on the phone learnt that the latest allegations were not unconnected with Mr. Wail Kutrub, a Syrian and former partner of his where the two were Directors in a Construction company called ALMJDAL and Mr. Lawrence Umeadi, an employee of the company.
Anthony Okpala narrated how the two procured DCP Zango and paid him to trump up fraud charges against him so that he(Anthony) will be distracted from prosecuting a road contract(Nsugbe-Nteje Road) awarded to him by the Government of Anambra State.
However, Anthony Okpala noted that his hands are clean and will once again be vindicated by the Courts.
See attached evidences.
