The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three Indian nationals and a Nigerian man on charges of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust before a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the defendants—Lalit Sarwat, Ravi Raghavendra, Gagan Sarswat, all Indian nationals, and Oniyide Samuel, a Nigerian who serves as a dispatch manager in Ilorin—were brought before Justice Sulaiman Akanbi on a two‑count charge.
According to the EFCC, while employed by KAM Steel Integrated Company Limited, the four allegedly conspired over several months—from November 2024 to September 2025—to commit criminal breach of trust in relation to the company’s property.
The first count of the charge accuses the defendants of agreeing to do an unlawful act by conspiring to commit criminal breach of trust, in violation of Section 97 of the Penal Code. The second count states that, as employees entrusted with company property—specifically steel rebars—they dishonestly misappropriated those assets, an offence under Section 314 of the Penal Code.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Cosmas Ugwu asked the court to remand the accused in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) while the trial proceeds. He also opposed bail, arguing that three of the defendants are foreign nationals and therefore pose a flight risk.
In response, defence lawyers Ademuyiwa Abe, S. J. Ochai, and D. M. Ayuba filed bail applications, asserting that the offences listed in the charges are bailable under Nigerian law.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Akanbi adjourned the case to Friday, December 19, 2025, for a ruling on the bail applications, and ordered that the defendants remain in correctional custody pending that decision.
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