BREAKING: Enugu Lawyer Petitions DSS Over Alleged Stealing, Alteration of Company Shares

 A petition has been filed with the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for the arrest and prosecution of certain officials from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and staff members of Madonna University, Elele, over allegations of conspiracy to steal company shares and alter official documents of Mayfresh Mortgage Bank. The petition, dated November 5, 2024, was signed by Enugu-based human rights lawyer Olu Omotayo Esq. on behalf of his clients: Chief Steven Edeh, Mr. John Paul, and Mrs. Maria Omego.

Omotayo's petition claims that the actions of the CAC officials violate Section 14(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015, particularly concerning computer-related fraud. The petition further urges that these individuals be held accountable for their alleged involvement in a scheme to manipulate records related to company shareholdings.

The petition was also sent to several key figures, including the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Director General of the Corporate Affairs Commission. It describes the alleged acts as a severe threat to national development and foreign investments in Nigeria. According to Omotayo, the manipulation of these records undermines corporate development, a sentiment echoed in earlier petitions submitted by him to the CAC on October 27 and September 28, 2024.

In these prior petitions, Omotayo highlighted that his clients' shares were stolen and tampered with by certain individuals, some of whom were allegedly working in concert with CAC officials. Omotayo further stated that the actions of these individuals posed a significant risk to Nigeria's economic stability, as such illegal acts could deter investors from engaging in business within the country.

The situation escalated after the CAC's Registrar General, Rev. Fr. E.M.P. Edeh, intervened and invited Omotayo and his clients to a meeting on October 8, 2024. During the meeting, it was revealed that Professor Martin Anagboso, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) of Madonna University, and Annette Ezekwem, along with their associates, had altered the shareholding records. This manipulation was allegedly motivated by the need to suppress vocal shareholders, particularly those demanding the repayment of a N4 billion loan obtained by Madonna University from Mayfresh Mortgage Bank.

Omotayo claims that the loan proceeds were improperly diverted into personal accounts held by Ezekwem and Anagboso, as evidenced by substantial transfers from Ezekwem's personal account through the Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Branch in Elele. This discovery led to further complications, including an investigation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) into the acting Managing Director of Mayfresh Mortgage Bank, Mr. Mark Egbegolu, over an alleged N30.15 million fraud. The CBN's report called for the immediate recovery of all loan amounts provided to Madonna University.

However, Omotayo lamented that despite the investigation, certain officials within the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department of the CBN delayed the release of the report, which was only made public after the shareholders complained directly to the office of the CBN Governor. 

A disturbing development occurred on November 4, 2024, when Mrs. Maria Omego was invited to Elele under the pretense of a family meeting with her elder brother, Father Edeh. Instead, she was reportedly held hostage and coerced into signing a withdrawal letter for the complaint of stolen shares, which was allegedly dictated to her over the phone by Festus Keyamo, SAN, the lawyer representing Anagboso and his associates. Omotayo claims the withdrawal letter was obtained under duress and should be disregarded by the CAC.

Omotayo further stressed that the actions of Professor Anagboso and his associates violated established procedures under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, which governs the transfer of shares. He pointed out that shares are personal property and can only be transferred through a sale or gift with the consent of the original owner. In this case, no such consent was given, raising questions about who authorized the illegal transfer of shares by Anagboso.

The petition also draws attention to the broader implications of these actions, which Omotayo describes as "economic terrorism" and a "grave threat" to Nigeria's developing economy. He warned that such actions undermine confidence in the country's corporate governance systems and could deter future investment. Additionally, Omotayo cited the CBN's findings, which indicated that Mayfresh Mortgage Bank had falsified records and misled the regulatory authority, with senior bank officials, including Egbegolu, now embroiled in multiple fraud investigations.

Despite attempts to reach Professor Anagboso, Annette Ezekwem, and Egbegolu for comment on the allegations, no responses were received as of the time of filing the report.