A businessman, Adebola Omodele, was on Wednesday, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding one Alhaja Kuburat Lawal, the wife of former governor of Kwara state, Late Mohammed Lawal, of the sum of N8.5 million
The businessman was brought before Justice Sule Hassa’s Court, by men of State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos, on two counts charge, bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
In the charge marked FHC/L/90c/2018, alleged that the businessman and others now at large, had sometimes in July 2012, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the said sum form the former governor’ wife, with the pretence of selling to her Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as Diesel, the presentation which was false.
Their alleged act according to the police by the was reported by the complainant after the accused and his group failed to supply the petroleum product as promised and failed to reimburse the complainant.
The offences according prosecutor, Innocent Anyigor, are contrary to Sections 8 and 1(1)(a)(b), (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable 1(3) of the same Act.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the accused lawyer, M. Adekoya, told the court that she is yet to filed her client’s bail application. Adding that his client has never run away since he was granted administrative bail by the police.
She also told the court that her client was having health challenge.
The lawyer also pleaded with the court not remand her client in prison custody but with the police, pending when his bail application will be heard.
Responding, the prosecutor, Mr. Anyigor, opposed the application that the accused be remanded with the police, on the ground that the police did not have medical facility to take care of the accused health challenge.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody till August 1, when his bail application will be entertained.
Count one of the charge against the businessman reads: “That you Adebola Omodele ’m’ and others now at large, sometimes in the month of July, 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court by false pretence and with intent to defraud, conspired amongst yourselves to obtain the sum of Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N8,500,000.00) from one Alhaja Kuburat Lawal and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
And the second count reads: “That you Adebola Omodele ‘m’ and others now at large Sometimes in the month of July, 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N8,5000,000.00) from one Alhaja Kuburat Lawal on a representation that you will sell Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to her, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1)(a)(b), (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, Act, 2006”.
