Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority, NAMA, Mathew Pwajok, for disobedience to court order.

The Judge had, sometime in July, 2022 issued a subpoena against Pwajok, ordering him to make available some documents in the ongoing trial of a former Managing Director of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalami, and others for an alleged N2.8bn fraud.

Abdulsalam is facing trial alongside Nnamdi Udoh (still at large), Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Segun Agbolade, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Invesment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited for conspiring to induce the agency to deliver the sum of N2.8billion to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedule Systems Limited on the pretext that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA's consignments.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Nnamdi Udoh (still at large) Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, on or about August 19, 2013, in Lagos, with intent to defraud conspired to induce the NAMA to deliver N2,847,523,975.00 to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Limited under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the said Agency.”

At the resumed sitting today, counsel to the third and eighth defendants, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, told the court that Pwajok shunned a subpoena issued in July by the court, ordering him to appear and produce the documents requested by both defendants.

Ojo, therefore, prayed that Pwajok be arrested and brought to the court on the next adjourned date to show cause why he should not be arrested.

According to him, “It is amazing that the MD of NAMA, who holds a public office, should treat this court with reprehensible disrespect.”

In response, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari Bala asked the court to proceed “pending the compliance of the arrest and contempt committal order.”

In a short ruling, Justice Kuewunmi directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi “to ensure Pwajok is brought to court” on the next adjourned date.

The case was adjourned to January 10 and 11, 2023 for production of the Pwajok and continuation of trial.

Media & Publicity

1 November, 2022