Court Fixes Oct. 5, For Arraignment Of Austin Albert, Partner Over Alleged Forgery, Money Laundering, N460.75 Fraud

Consequently, the judge, while adjourning the matter to today, directed the lawyer to ensure that his client is in court.

However, at the resumed hearing of the matter today, while Barrister G. T. Nev from Force Headquarters, Abuja, announced his appearance for the prosecution, Barrister Abdulhakeem Adio appeared for the two defendants, and Barrister Ogechi Abu of FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers) leading three other lawyers, and Oluniyi Adeniyi of J-K Gadzama LLP, announced their appearance for the nominal complainant.

The prosecutor informed the court of the amended charge dated and filed July 13, 2026, which he said was pursuant to Section 216 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

He also informed the court that the matter is slated for the plea of both the first and second defendants, and the first defendant is not in court again to take his plea. However, the defendants’ lawyer, Barrister Adio, earlier raised objection to the amended charge, but upon being counseled by the court, he withdrew his objection.

On the absence of the first defendant, Austin Albert, the lawyer said he is currently under-going major surgery in Dubai, he however apologized for his absence. He also informed the court that there is an ongoing move to settle the matter out of court.

Responding, the prosecutor said that there was no medical report to show that the first defendant was under-going major surgery and that he was not aware of any settlement move between the parties. However, by the agreement of the Prosecution and defendants’ lawyer, Justice Kala adjourned the matter to October 5, for the defendants’ arrraignment.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP’s) office has instituted the charge marked NO.FHC/LAG/CR/388/2026, against the two defendants. 

In the charge, both Austin Albert of 212a, Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, and Jinadu Musbau Olalekan, of 6b, Uwadia Close, off Alhaji Karimu Street, Lekki, Lagos, were slammed with a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged money laundering, forgery, unlawful transfer of funds and intimidation.

They were alleged to have on March 6, 2026, conspired among themselves and fraudulently transferred and converted N460,750,000 belonging to Premiere Immigration and Advisory Limited from the company’s Globus Bank account into the account of New Power Energy and Logistics Services without the consent or authority of the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, who is also a signatory to the account.

They were also accused of procuring, forging and using the signature of the CEO to raise a mandate that allegedly enabled the transfer of the N460.75 million from the company’s account.

The first defendant, Austin Albert, was specifically alleged to have threatened the CEO in February 2026 in an attempt to compel her to surrender either 10 per cent of her 50 per cent shareholding or the entire ownership of Premiere Immigration and Advisory Limited. He was also alleged to have contacted the complainant’s friends and business partners, urging them to pressure her into relinquishing control of the company or face unspecified consequences. 

The alleged offences according to the prosecution are contrary to section 18(2)(b) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2022; section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17 LFN, 2004, and section 366(a) and 473(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C8 2004 and punishable under sections 473(2) and 366 (f) of the same law.