How siblings defrauded billionaire, Alakija –EFCC witness

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Mr . Ganiu Ajisafe , on Monday,
explained to a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, how one
Vincent Ayewah connived with his siblings and
friends to allegedly defraud a foundation , Rose of
Sharon Foundation , owned by a business tycoon ,
Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija , of N3 m.
Ajisafe , an operative with the anti-graft commission ,
while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr .
M . D . Aliu , told the court that Ayewah, an employee
of the foundation , who reports directly to the project
officer, connived with his two siblings and friends to
forge the identity card of the beneficiaries of the
foundation , so as to divert the said sum to
themselves.

He stated that in the course of their investigation ,
letters of investigating activities were written to
Fidelity Bank and Stanbic IBTC .

He added that Ayewah’ s house was searched and one
Mr. George, who was the maker of the forged I .D card
as well as the fake I.D cards and the system used
were recovered.

“ Vincent connived with his siblings , who were also
beneficiaries at the foundation and friends to forge
the I.D . card of the foundation with different names
to defraud the organisation , ” Ayewah said .

Ayewah was arraigned alongside his two siblings ,
Florence Ayewah, Emmanuel Ayewah alongside his
friends – Onuwa David , Okoronkwo Chikadibia,
Ehizibolo George and Chinyere Awanah – on 28
counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing , forgery
and impersonation .

According to the petition written to the EFCC, Alakija
said the foundation received complaints from some
of the beneficiaries of the foundation ’ s scholarship
awards regarding their unpaid school fees .

She added that she instructed the project officer to
investigate the complaints and it revealed that
Ayewah had been fraudulently misappropriating the
funds meant for widows and orphans .
According to her, Ayewah confessed to the crime and
promised not to do so again but he continued
stealing and graduated to forging the cheques of the
foundation ’ s Stanbic IBTC Bank account .
The presiding Judge , Justice Hakeem Oshodi,
adjourned till June 1, 2017 , for continuation of trial