Indian National Sentenced To 10 Years For N800 Million Fraud In Lagos

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja found Indian national Chandra Singh guilty of procurement fraud totaling N816,361,386.75, and sentenced him to 10 years in jail.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the case, and Justice I.O. Ijelu delivered the ruling.
On November 24, 2022, Singh was charged before Justice Ijelu by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on 19 counts related to bribery and retention of stolen property totaling N816,361,386.75.

Singh was detained and charged with bribery and keeping stolen property.

The Case of the EFCC

While working for African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, Chandra Prankash Singh allegedly solicited, indirectly, to give his company, CVN Engineering Limited, an unfair advantage by persuading his employer to give CVN Engineering Limited a contract worth N365,757,457.00, according to the EFCC’s charges.

According to another charge:

“That on or before January 1, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, Chandra Prankash Singh, while working for African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, solicited, indirectly, to give your company, Neo Paints Nigeria Limited, an unfair advantage in order to persuade your employer to give Neo Paints Nigeria Limited a contract worth N243,141,638.75.”

Additionally, the defendant was accused by the EFCC of dishonestly keeping $4,150 that belonged to African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.

Singh entered a plea of “not guilty” to all charges during his arraignment, which triggered the start of his trial.

In order to bolster his case against Singh, Bilikisu Buhari, the prosecuting attorney for the EFCC, called nine witnesses and produced a number of documentary pieces of evidence.

The Court’s Decision

Justice Ijelu found the defendant guilty on multiple counts after upholding the EFCC’s evidence in his ruling on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

The EFCC claims that Singh was given a 10-year prison sentence by the judge, with no possibility of a fine.

He was also mandated by the court to reimburse the victim N345 million.