By TSJ Reporter
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned three men—Saka Olubamishe, Omogoye Olusegun, and Olumuyiwa Adesina—before the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday, November 21, for allegedly defrauding victims of N29,386,500. The defendants face charges of conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, B.M. Isha, told the court that the defendants committed the offences in July 2023 in Lagos. According to Isha, the trio conspired to fraudulently convert the sum of N29,386,500 from victims Awolaja Sherri Ajibola and Akintoye Ganiyu. They falsely claimed that they could transfer the dollar equivalent of the sum, at a rate of N750 per dollar, to Copart Auto Auction in America, knowing that the claim was untrue.
The charges against the defendants contravene the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 and the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following their not guilty pleas, the prosecutor requested a trial date. The defense counsel, S.T. Ladokun, S.A. Oseni, and T.F. Makinde, applied for bail on behalf of their clients, urging the court to grant bail on liberal terms. Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe granted the defendants bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties for each defendant, who must provide proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned to January 23, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
