Judge’s Retirement Stalls Estate Agency’s Trial Charged With Alleged N10m Fraud

Justice Saidu had fixed today for the trial of the Estate agent after he was arraigned by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Ikoyi, Lagos, before the court on January 20, 2021, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence from one Olatunde Egbesola.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Tijjani Williams, are contrary to sections 8(a), 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under 1(3) of the same Act

The defendant had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed trial of the defendant today, the court Registrar’s told the prosecutor, Barrister Williams, that the matter could not go on as scheduled as the presiding judge, Justice Saidu, had retired from the bench, and no new date has been fixed for trial.

During the arraignment of the defendant, the prosecutor in a charge marked FHC/L/147c/2020, told the court that the defendant and the dou of a London-based, Olayinka Dawodu, a brother to a Commissioner in Lagos State and one Akinwunmi Lambo, who were said to be at large, sometimes in 2007, conspired among themselves and allegedly defrauded Egbesola of the said sum, by falsely presented to him that they wanted to redevelop his family house located at 10, Ojora Close, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Charges against the defendant read: “that you Durojaiye Adetimi ‘M’ and others now at large on or about sometimes in June, 2017, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

“That you Durojaiye Adetimi ‘M’ and others now at large on or about sometimes in June. 2017 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while acting as an agent to one Olayinka ldowu did fraudulently obtained the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10. 000.000.00) from one Olatunde Egbesola “m’ under the pretext that you wanted to redevelop your family property at No. 10, Ojora Close Victoria Island, Lagos, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Advance Fraud Related Offences Act No. 4 of 2006”.