Justice Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Wednesday ordered the remand of three Indian nationals and a Nigerian over alleged criminal breach of trust.
The defendants are Lalit Sarwat, Ravi Raghavendra and Gagan Sarswat, alongside an Ilorin-based dispatch manager, Oniyide Samuel.
They were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
They were arraigned by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, contrary to and punishable under Sections 97 and 314 of the Penal Code.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants, while employees of KAM Steel Integrated Company Limited, Ilorin, conspired between November 2024 and September 2025 to commit the offence.
Count one of the charge sheet reads: “That you, Lalit Sarwat, Kumar Saroj (at large), Oniyide Samuel (trading under the name and style of Incognito Steel), Ravi Raghavendra, and Gagan Sarswat, between November 2024 and September 2025, whilst being servants in the employment of KAM Steel Integrated Company Limited, agreed among yourselves to do an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”
Particulars of count two state: “That you, Lalit Sarwat, Kumar Saroj (at large), Oniyide Samuel (trading under the name and style of Incognito Steel), Ravi Raghavendra, and Gagan Sarswat, between November 2024 and September 2025, whilst being servants in the employment of KAM Steel Integrated Company Limited and in that capacity entrusted with the company’s property, to wit: steel rebars, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Penal Code.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecuting counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, applied for their remand in NCoS custody pending trial.
Defence counsel, Ademuyiwa Abe, S. J. Ochai and D. M. Ayuba, urged the court to admit their clients to bail, arguing that the offences are bailable.
Opposing the applications, Ugwu asked the court to refuse bail on the grounds that three of the defendants are foreign nationals and constitute a flight risk. He also sought an accelerated hearing of the case.
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After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Akanbi adjourned the matter to Friday, December 19, 2025, for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
