Major fraud proceedings against Zinox Group Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh and his wife Chioma hit an early snag Thursday as both defendants failed to appear for their arraignment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The case, involving alleged misappropriation of N170.3 million from a Federal Inland Revenue Service contract, opened with complications around serving court documents to key defendants.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, leading the prosecution under a special fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation, informed Justice A.O. Ebong that only three of the thirteen defendants had been successfully served with court documents. The served parties include corporate entities Ad’mas Digital Technologies Ltd., Technology Distributions Ltd. (now TD Africa), and Zinox Technologies Ltd.
The charges stem from allegations that funds intended for an FIRS laptop supply contract awarded to Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd were fraudulently diverted without the company’s knowledge. The prosecution claims approximately N162.3 million was misappropriated through an Access Bank account, with an additional N8 million deducted by the Central Bank as VAT.
Beyond the Ekehs, the case implicates several high-profile figures in Nigeria’s technology sector, including Chris Eze Ozims, Zinox Group‘s Legal Adviser, and Professor Anya O. Anya, TD Africa’s Board Chairman and former CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. The prosecution also named several TD Africa executives and Access Bank employees allegedly involved in creating fraudulent accounts.
Falana, accompanied by senior lawyer Bob James and associates Sam Ogala and OJ Matthias, expressed frustration over difficulties serving court documents to ten defendants. In response, the prosecution filed an ex parte application seeking permission for substituted service, highlighting the challenges in bringing all parties before the court.
The case has already generated significant media attention, with TD Africa’s counsel Mathew Burkaa noting they had filed preliminary objections questioning the validity of the Attorney General’s fiat allowing Falana’s firm to prosecute. These developments prompted Justice Ebong to schedule a March 3, 2025 hearing for both the preliminary objections and the prosecution’s service motion.
The proceedings occur against a backdrop of public controversy, with Citadel Oracle Concept Limited’s CEO, Benjamin Joseph Onyebuchi, recently criticizing Ekeh’s public statements about the Attorney General and the prosecution team. Onyebuchi urged the Zinox chairman to focus on preparing his legal defense rather than engaging in media disputes.
The scale of the alleged fraud and the prominence of the defendants make this case particularly significant for Nigeria’s business community and anti-corruption efforts. The charges suggest a sophisticated scheme involving multiple corporate entities and banking professionals, raising questions about corporate governance and financial oversight in high-value government contracts.
As the legal process unfolds, the case promises to shed light on the intersection of technology businesses, government contracts, and financial accountability in Nigeria’s corporate sector. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how similar cases are handled in the future and may influence corporate governance practices across the industry.
