A Lagos-based Federal High Court has rejected applications from three foreign nationals – Prem Garg, Devashish Garg (Indian nationals), and Marcus Wade (British national) – to quash a bench warrant issued for their arrest and extradition related to a $42.48 million fraud case. The trio, along with their companies, Wilben Trade Limited and Agrico Agbe Limited, were accused of defrauding Ecobank Plc in 2015.
The court initially charged them with conspiracy and cheating, but they failed to appear, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant and extradition request. The defendants’ lawyers, Dele Belgore and Dada Awosika, filed applications to quash the orders, but the court dismissed them, stating that the applications “lack merit.”
The presiding judge, Akintayo Aluko, ruled that proceedings in an Indian court cannot stay criminal proceedings in Nigeria and that an order of status quo from another court cannot violate the pending criminal charge. The case has been adjourned to October 24 for further proceedings.
