Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, when she convicted and sentenced Idris Bakare to four years imprisonment for defrauding British Airways of N35.6 million.
Bakare was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge of stealing to the tune of N35,672,845.00. The offence is contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
One of the counts reads: “Idris Bakare Adeyemi, Dauda Adegboyega and Zuraai Gold Ventures, between 23rd October, 2019 and 31st December, 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your use the total sum of N35,672,845.00 (Thirty-five Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-five Naira) belonging to British Airways.”
Bakare pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel Z.I. Atiku called EFCC investigative officer Mojibola Adekanbi for a review of the facts. Adekanbi explained that the Commission received a petition from British Airways on January 19, 2022, against Total Nigeria Plc and Sahara Energy, alleging conspiracy to invoice aircraft Jet A1 fuel above what had been uploaded to the British Airways aircraft to the tune of N363,780,248.53. The fraudulent practice had been ongoing since 2018.
“The convict, a former contract staff of Total Plc, was a fueller who dispensed Jet A1 fuel via bowser vehicle with a hose to the aircraft,” Adekanbi stated.
She further revealed that Bakare conspired with others to sell some amounts of Jet A1 fuel meant for British Airways to one Dauda Sulaiman. “This was confirmed by the buyer through a series of transactions of money to the convict’s account,” Adekanbi noted. “The convict received the total sum of N40,676,000.00 (Forty Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-six Thousand Naira) from the buyer, Sulaiman, being the proceeds of sales of the stolen Jet A1 fuel.”
The prosecution counsel tendered the petition from British Airways, the defendant’s statement, his statement of account with Zenith Bank, and an N4 million Access Bank Cheque restituted to the Commission during investigations as evidence in court. Justice Abike-Fadipe admitted them as exhibits P1, P2, and P3 respectively and convicted Bakare as charged.
When given the opportunity to address the court, Bakare pleaded for leniency, promising never to engage in fraudulent practices again. “I apologise to British Airways; my employer, through their principal, Total Plc; Nigerians, and my family. I am very sorry; I have learnt my lesson. British Airways, I am very sorry,” he pleaded.
His lawyer, Olufemi Bisuga, also prayed for mercy. The prosecution counsel requested the court to impose the provision of Section 297 of the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Law of Lagos State regarding restitution to victims of the crime.
Consequently, Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced Bakare to one-year imprisonment on each of the four counts, with an option of a fine of N1 million on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently. Additionally, Bakare was ordered to pay the balance of N36,676,000.00 over three years, starting from July 2024. The Judge also ordered that the sum of N4 million refunded should be given back to British Airways.
