By Jerry Uwah
Lagos
Nestle Nigeria Plc and two persons have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining property by false pretenses and promoting illegal lottery.
The federal government through the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) of the Nigeria Police slammed a 10-count criminal charge on Nestle and the two persons.
Court papers reveal the accused persons charged alongside Nestle, in the suit marked FHC/L/77c/15, as: Gord Hon and BeeBee Ayeku and others, said to be at large.
The suit was filed by J. Nwadike of FCID, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Nestle Nigeria plc, Gord Horn and BeeBee Ayeku and others allegedly conspired, between October 2014 and October 2015, among themselves to commit an offence by inducing a person in Nigeria to confer a benefit.
The Federal government also alleged that Nestle and the other accused persons, at the same time and place, induced Nigerians to confer benefit on them by entering into the contract of buying a product titled, “Year-End Shoppers Bag Promo” upon the promise to the effect that participants will win a prize.
They also allegedly induced Nigerians to enter into the contract of buying a product by way of advance payment in the guise of lottery captioned, “Year -End Shoppers’ Bag promo” upon promise to the effect that participants will win a prize.
The defendants and others at large were also alleged to have, between October 2014 and October 2015 at Lagos, established and kept the premises of 22/24, Industrial Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos, as a place for the purpose of lottery, using the said premises for obtaining property by false pretence.
Meanwhile, their arraignment which was earlier scheduled for Tuesday, May 30, 2017, could not hold because the trial judge was indisposed.
Consequently, their proper arraignment has been adjourned till July 6, 2017.
