Lagos Court Jails Chandra Singh for Bribery and Theft of N816 Million

Chandra Singh, an Indian national, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for procurement fraud. The ruling was delivered on Thursday, 27 February 2025, by Justice I.O. Ijelu, who convicted Singh on charges of bribery and retention of stolen property totaling N816,361,386.75.

Singh, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 24 November 2022, faced a 19-count charge. The prosecution accused him of using his position at African Natural Resources and Mines Limited to solicit bribes and unfair advantages for his own company, CVN Engineering Limited, and Neo Paints Nigeria Limited.

One of the charges stated that Singh, while employed at African Natural Resources and Mines, had solicited an undue advantage for CVN Engineering Limited, influencing his employer to award a contract for supplying items worth N365,757,457.00. Another charge involved a similar offense, this time with Neo Paints Nigeria Limited, where he sought an unfair advantage to secure a contract worth N243,141,638.75.

In addition to the procurement fraud, Singh was also accused of dishonestly retaining $4,150 belonging to African Natural Resources and Mines Limited. Despite pleading “not guilty” to all charges, Singh was convicted after a full trial in which prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari presented nine witnesses and documentary evidence to establish his guilt.

Justice Ijelu found Singh guilty on counts 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment without an option of a fine. The court also ordered him to pay restitution of N345 million to his victim, African Natural Resources and Mines Limited.

The conviction marks the conclusion of Singh’s fraudulent activities, in which he exploited his professional position for personal gain, leading to a significant legal and financial setback for his victim.