Court declares teacher innocent over alleged theft of $110,267 belonging to Donald Duke’s wife

The former Vice-Principal of the American International School, Lagos, Ebele Mbanugo, has been discharged and acquitted by the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over alleged fraud levelled against her by the wife of the former governor of Cross River State, Onari Duke.

Mbanugo had been accused of allegedly stealing $110,267.57 from Onari’s NGO, the Child Survival and Development Organisation of Nigeria, between September 2009 and October 2011.

The prosecutor, K. O. Sarumi on Monday told the court that money raised for the purpose of purchasing mammogram machines for the detection of breast cancer had been misappropriated by the defendant, adding that the offences, breached sections 265(7) and 278(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Mbanugo who denied the allegations during her testimony, said she got acquainted with Onari based on her influence to help with fundraising for an NGO Run for Cure Africa Breast Cancer Foundation that was established by the defendant in 2006.

The former AISL vice principal who disclosed that a dispute arose between her and Onari over the ownership of the initiative after the former governor’s wife had received a cheque of N7.4m from the funds raised, said that mammogram machines had been donated to the Calabar Women and Children’s Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

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Justice Taiwo while delivering judgment, noted that the prosecution failed to ascertain that Mbanugo stole the money

“The prosecution failed to prove that the money misappropriated belonged to Mrs Duke. Mrs Duke was not called to testify in this case.

“The testimony of the defendant showed how three mammogram machines were bought from General Electric for $133,000, which is a sum higher than the sum allegedly misappropriated by the defendant.

“The prosecution failed to prove the source of the funds or that the defendant fraudulently converted them to her own use.

“The defendant had shown various brochures, pictures and documents highlighting her passion for fighting breast cancer as her mother and two aunts were diagnosed with the disease and she had said how early detection saved her mother.

“It is unfortunate that such a laudable initiative could be marred by conflict between Mrs Duke and the defendant over the ownership of the foundation. The defendant is hereby acquitted and discharged” he said.

By Todimu Ogunade…

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