A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till 14th of February 14, 2023 for commencement of the trial of a company, Cashigo International Limited, and its four officials alleged to have obstructed the investigation of the Federal Competition and Protection Commission.
The four officials arraigned alongside the company are Liu Xu David, Olayinka Akintunde Ojomo, Emeka Odom and Lauretta Stanley Akwuru
According to a five count charge filed before the court, Cashigo International Limited, Liu Xu David, Olayinka Akintade Ojomo, Emeka Odom and Lauretta Stanley Akwuru (F) at various times between March 11, 2022 and March 22, 2022, at Ikeja, Lagos did prevent, impede and obstruct the investigation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to obtain and exchange information required, but they undermine, compromise or interfere with the investigation and soliciting, offering, giving and receiving financial gratification for obtaining such information; and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 110 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
It was further alleged that the Company and its officials at various times between March 11, 2022 and March 22, 2022 at Ikeja, in the course of conducting, and in furtherance of their employment, or business engaged in coercion, undue pressure and unfair tactics, including but not limited to, harassment, intimidation, threat making and publishing untrue statement, unsubstantiated facts and unproven malicious criminal and other allegations about certain persons/customers to them and third parties with intention to cause apprehension, anxiety, reputational damage, and by these to coerce them into making certain payments or comply with their requests and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and punishable under Section 155 of the said Act.
They were alleged to have provided information which they knew to be false and misleading and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 112 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
In count five of the charges, one of the defendants, Lauretta Stanley Akwuru (F) on March 28, 2022 at Ikeja, Lagos, without reasonable cause failed and refused to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in compliance with a lawfully issued Summons committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.