One Saka Toafeek Olubamishe, Omogoye Olusegun and Olumuyiwa Adesina have been arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja in connection with fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, charged them to court on on three-count charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of, N29,386,500 (Twenty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred)
The defendants were charged on Conspiracy to commit felony to wit: Stealing contrary to Section 411 and punishable under section 280(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Sections 1(1) (a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006.
One of the counts reads: “Saka Toafeek Olubamishe, Omogoye Olusegun, Olumuyiwa Adesina sometime in July. 2023 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: fraudulently converted the total sum of N29, 386, 500 (Twenty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) only, property of Awolaja Sherri Ajibola and Akintoye Ganiyu”.
Another count reads: “Saka Toafeek Olubamishe, Omogoye Olusegun, Olumuyiwa Adesina sometime in July. 2023 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with the intent to defraud obtained the cumulative sum of N29,386,500 (Twenty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) only, from Awolaja Sherri Ajibola and Akintoye Ganiyu under the false pretence that you have the United States Dollars equivalent of the said sum at the rate of N750 per dollar to transfer to Copart Auto Auction in America which pretense you knew to be false”.
After the charges were read to them , they pleaded not guilty to.
The prosecuting counsel, B. M. Isha, prayed the court for a trial date.
However, counsel to the defendants, S. T. Ladokun, S. A. Oseni and T. F. Makinde, told the court about pending applications for bail on behalf of their clients and pleaded with the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms.
Hence, Justice Fadipe granted bail to defendants on N10 million with two sureties in like sum, the sureties must show their evidence of tax payment to Lagos State and adjourned the case to January 23, 2025 for commencement of trial.
