Alleged N29.3m Fraud: Court Fixes June 24 For Arraignment Of Lagos Monarch, 6 Others
Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court, on monday, fixed June 24, 2024 for the arraignment of a Lagos monarch, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega, and six others on alleged fraud of 29.3 million.
Others to be arraigned alongside the monarch are: Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole; Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki; Mrs Jemilatu Busari; Amoda Ibrahim and Adams Adebiyi, who were listed as first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh defendants in a four count-charge marked FHC/L/80c/2024,
The charges was filed against the defendants by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
The monarch and other defendants’ arraignment was initially fixed for Monday May 7, 2024 but when the matter was called, the Prosecutor, Barrister Elliot Ejie, announced his appearance for the complainant, the Inspector-General of Police, while Barrister Abayomi Fagbayi, announced his appearance for all the defendants.
In telling the court why the defendants were not in court, their lawyer said: “the charge was served on by virtue of order of this court.
“Also, I took further steps to contact all the defendants, particularly, the first defendant (Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole), who’s the only one that could receive the charge, and he told me that the second defendant (Monsuru Abimbola Oladega), is now in abroad for medical trip, and the rest are not residing within the community.
“Even though, they told me that they will come together and discuss the charge, I’ll bring them to court on the next adjourned date.”
Responding, the prosecutor, said he is not opposing the adjournment request of the counsel.
Consequently, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to June 24, for the arraignment of all the defendants.
All the defendants in the charges, were alleged to have between 2014 and 2022, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the sum of N29.3 million, 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila; Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and the Amicable Friends Estate, under the pretence of allocating 15 acres and 4 plots of Odoyi’s family land, situate at Oko-Agbon, Agboyi 1, Lagos State, to them.
The counts one and four of the charges against all the defendants read: “That you Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole ‘M’, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega ‘M’, Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki ‘M’, Jemilatu Busari ‘F’, Amoda Ibrahim ‘M’, Adams Adebiyi ‘M’, and others at large, sometimes in 2014 did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining a total sum of twenty-nine million and three hundred thousand naira (N29, 300, 000.00); one 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila, one Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and the Amicable Friends Estate, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a), Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offences, 2606 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole ‘M’, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega ‘M’, Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki ‘M’, Jemilatu Busari ‘F’, Amoda Ibrahim ‘M’, Adams Adebiyi ‘M’, and others at large, between 2014 and 2022, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did retain a total sum of twenty-nine million and three hundred thousand naira (N29, 300, 000.00); One 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, which formed proceeds of an unlawful act of obtaining by false pretence from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila, One Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and The Amicable Friends Estate, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (2){d), Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Prior today’s proceedings and due to the inability of the police to reach the defendants for the service of the charge, Justice Aluko had on March 18, 2024, ordered that the charge be served on their lawyer, Abayomi Fagbayi.
The judge made the order after listening to a motion Exparte dated and filed on March 4, and moved by the prosecutor, Barrister Elliott Ijie.
