Lebanese Citizens Allegedly Defraud Ecobank Of N9.4bn

A Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected an application filed by Nabil Maukarzel and Halawi Fidaa, two Lebanese nationals residing in Spain, to dismiss criminal charges and an extradition order made against them over an alleged N9.4 billion fraud.

The defendants were accused of obtaining the sum from Ecobank Plc under false pretences, claiming they wanted to import goods into Nigeria.

The alleged crimes were committed at Apapa in 2014, but the defendants failed to appear in court, leading to an extradition order being granted against them.

The defendants’ lawyer approached the court with an application seeking to quash the charges and strike out the extradition order, as well as a notice of appeal and a motion for a stay of the extradition order.

However, the court ruled that the defendants, who refused to submit themselves to the court, have no right of audience and dismissed the applications for lacking merit.