Zinox Technologies Limited boss, Leo Stan Ekeh has cried out to Nigerians that he was never involved in N170 million contract fraud.

His lawyer, Matthew Burkaa and Co. in a statement said:

“Our clients have drawn our attention to several online publications containing some false, distorted and damaging contents in the Sahara Reporters of October 2, 2022, titled: Zinox group chairman, wife, 11 others face trial in Nigerian court over alleged N170m contract fraud nine years after.”

“Similar stories were published in some other online news outlets.”

“Copies of the online publications have since gone viral on social media and have been read globally. Our clients – Ekeh, Technology Distributions Limited (TD), Mrs Ekeh, and their staff – Chris Ozims, Oyebode Folashade and Charles Adigwe – have been inundated with calls from persons shocked over the disturbing publications.”

“First of all, of great concern, is how straightforward business transaction between two corporate entities, Technology Distributions Limited (TD) and Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd, has been skewed in a manner to give the erroneous impression that a personal business was transacted by individuals, to wit: Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, his wife and his named staff with one Mr Benjamin Joseph.”

“The publications were made to blackmail, drag, embarrass and bring down the persons named in the publications while Mr Joseph is made to appear as a victim.”

“The matter began after a “2012 credit sales of HP laptops to Citadel Oracle Ltd on an interest-free credit facility when they could not fund the contract awarded to them by FIRS to supply laptops, along with 12 other companies.”

“After FIRS paid all suppliers who were funded by Technology Distributions (TD) the other companies paid TD the pre-agreed invoice value. But Mr Benjamin Joseph, the MD of Citadel, tried to divert TD’s fund but his partner Princess Kama resisted that move.”

“After TD was paid, a dispute arose between Joseph and Kama on profit sharing to the extent that Joseph’s counsel, Afe Babalola (SAN), unsuccessfully tried to intervene.”

“It was at this point that he changed the story and contented that he was not aware of the contract and that his company was used to defraud FIRS.”

“However, during investigation by Nigerian Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the FIRS provided proof that Benjamin Joseph was indeed aware of the contract and that all the ordered computers were fully supplied and received by the FIRS.”

“The police and EFCC investigations revealed that Ekeh and Zinox are not connected to the allegations that formed the basis of the publications and that on the contrary, Joseph is presently standing trial in court for forwarding false allegations via a petition containing the very allegations that formed the basis of the publications.”

“Our clients will take legal action against the publishers of such false reports.”

“Our clients shall employ every available legal means to address the libelous contents in the referenced publications and seek for appropriate remedies and damages where necessary.”