A civil rights group, Save Lagos Group (SLG), has dragged three Indians and their company, Sunola Vegetable Oil & Foods Limited, a subsidiary of Kewalram Nigeria Limited, Lagos, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged illegal and fraudulent seizure of N106.5 million commission rates of the goods bought by one of the company’s Authorised Distributor, Mr. Selim Alamutu, who is the Chairman CESSA-KAMSEL Integrated Investment Limited.
SLG also accused one Inspector Sule of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command of conniving with the Indians to evade investigation of the company’s fraudulent activities.
It further alleged that many Nigeria citizens have been defrauded by the Indians through their company, adding that it has been the habit of Nigeria security personnel to cover up for foreigners and shield them from arrest over criminal acts.
The company officials that were dragged before the anti-graft agency are Mr. Suresh Naya, Mr. Rajesh Ramaswamy and Rajnesh Potey, the former General Manager, Former Acting General Manager and incumbent General Manager of Sunola Foods Limited, respectively. Also dragged before EFCC is the company’s Head of Account Section, Mr. Otteh, a Nigerian.
The quartet and Sunola were reported to EFCC via a petition dated 24th of October, 2016, signed by SLG Convener, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman. Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Acting Chairman and Deputy Director of Operation of the EFCC in Abuja and Lagos offices respectively, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Indian Embassy in Nigeria.
SLG called for the immediate arrest of the aforementioned Sunola officials in connection with the alleged fraudulent activities in accordance with the Section 24(1e) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It urged the anti-graft commission to investigate the Lagos State Airport Road Branch of Zenith Bank Account Number-1011361443, “which the Indian company has used to defraud unsuspecting Nigerian customers.” According to the petition, “The commission of the sales of Mr. Alamutu of CESSA – KAMSEL Integrated Investment Limited from Sunola Nig. Ltd. management since 2004 till date, of this business transaction is now a N100 million, which is in accordance with the company’s agreement with their authorised distributor (Mr. Alamutu) and another payment of N5.7 million also made to the Zenith Bank Account of Sunola Nigeria Limited by Mr. Alamutu in recent times.
“In view of the indubitable fact that jungle rule of delusive demagogues and desperadoes are being satanically entrenched in the aforementioned Sunola Refined Vegetable Oils and Kewalram Nigeria Limited to the charging of those of unsuspected distributors like Mr. Selim Alamutu and his companies.”
