The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a Nigerian lawyer, Nnamdi Awa Kalu, to show up in court on the 9th of July 2025, to explain the whereabouts of his client, Richard Ironbar Edemadem, who has reportedly jumped bail and failed to appear for trial.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa issued the order during Friday’s proceedings.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Richard Ironbar Edemadem, Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, and a company, ISD Technology Limited, for fraud totalling N36,837,438.20.
EFCC is accusing the defendants of tampering with MTN Communications Nigeria Limited’s Critical Mobile Telecommunications Network System, and using the compromised system to send unsolicited SMSes to subscribers, while fraudulently debiting their accounts.
The funds were allegedly shared among the defendants and their companies.
During the trial 3 days ago, Justice Lewis-Alagoa noticed that out of 5 defendants listed in the charge that was presented, only 4 showed up in court.
The realization prompted him to ask why Edemadem, the first defendant, who was repeatedly referenced while EFCC’s 4th witness, Olamide Sadiq, was giving his testimony, failed to appear in court.
Responding, the prosecutor, Mr Nnemeka Omewa, told the court that Edemadem had fled, and his lawyer, Nnamdi Awa Kalu, had also stopped showing up in court.
After Justice Lewis-Alagoa asked if efforts are being made to find the sureties or enforce the bail bond, Nnemekwa revealed that several attempts to track the sureties have proved abortive thus far since there is no documentation related to them in the court file.
The Judge then ordered Nnamdi Awa Kalu to show his face in court on the next adjourned date to explain what he knows about Edemadem’s disappearance.
While the hearing was ongoing, EFCC witness, Olamide Sadiq, broke down how the defendants, mostly IT experts employed at several telecom service companies, allegedly united to manipulate MTN’s telecom system.
According to him, the defendants made use of unauthorised access to send several unsolicited messages and illegally surcharge customers, before splitting the funds derived for their personal gain.
After Sadiq’s testimony, Justice Lewis-Alagoa adjourned the case until July 9, 2025.
The alleged offenders, alongside a certain Sola (who is on the run), stand accused of conspiring to exploit a critical telecom network system in 2017, in Lagos State.
Alleging that the defendants committed the crime between 2017 and 2018, the EFCC maintained that they tampered with MTN’s critical telecommunications system without authorisation to do so by a letter of contract of service.
The defendants were also accused of intentionally taking possession of N36,837,438.20, the proceeds of their unlawful act and theft.
EFCC concluded by saying that their offences contravene Sections 27(6b) and 10 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and 15(2)(d) and (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
