Date: 2018-11-07

A businessman and former boss of Kwara Hotels, Mohammed Gobir, has been reported to have collapsed at the hearing of his trial on Monday.

Gobir, an indigene of Kwara State, and his company, Mondial Defence Systems Limited, are facing a five-count charge of stealing and forgery, slammed against them by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was, however, to appear for trial before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of an Ikeja High Court on Monday.

At resumed proceedings on Monday, his counsel, Mr. F.I.T Aliyu, informed that his client was in court in the morning for his trial over allegation of defrauding the Kwara State government of N277 million in 2013 but collapsed later.

"My Lord, the defendant complained of stomach upset in court, as he was trying to attend to it, he collapsed outside the court and he was taken to the hospital. In this circumstance, we shall be asking for an adjournment."

Justice Oyefeso wished that he recovered speedily and adjourned till January 8, 2019.

It would be recalled that Gobir, and his company Mondial Defence Systems Ltd., are facing a five-count charge of stealing and forgery, slammed against them by the EFCC.

According EFCC prosecutor, the offences were committed between November 2012 and January 2014 in Ikeja.

"In November 2012, the defendants dishonestly converted to their use the N92.3 million, property of the Kwara State government.

"Sometime in 2013, the defendants dishonestly converted N184 million, also belonging to the Kwara State government.

"The monies were collected under the guise of supplying three units of APCs to the Kwara State government but the APCs were never supplied."

"The defendants forged three documents, the first on October 10, 2013, titled "Letter of Award of Contract with reference number – S/GS/157/7/123.

"The second was on Dec. 28, 2013 a letter titled Letter of Award of Contract with reference number S/GS/157/VII/535.

"The third was on Jan. 17, 2014 titled Letter of Intent with reference number: S/GS/157/T/15.

"The three letters were purportedly from the Office of the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, in relation to the bogus contracts."

The alleged offences contravenes Sections 285 (9)(b) and 363 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.