$1.6m Scam: Court Dismisses Lagos Pastor’s No-Case Submission

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, 12th April 2022, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun, a self-acclaimed Lagos-based pastor, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an alleged One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1.600,000.00) only scam.

Oluokun, whose trial began on 8th May 2019, is being prosecuted alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on charges bordering on the issuance of dud cheques, stealing and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $1.6 million.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun and Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on or about 26th June 2014, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited Cheque dated 26th June 2014 for the sum of $1,000,000 (One Million Dollars) only payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited, which when presented for payment was dishonoured because no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.”

Another count reads: “That you, Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun and Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on or about 26th June 2014, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited Cheque dated 26th June 2014 for the sum $666,666 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Dollars only) payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited, which when presented for payment was dishonoured because no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the commencement of trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecuting counsel, S.O. Daji called seven witnesses and tendered several documentary pieces of evidence to prove the case of the prosecution before subsequently closing his case.

The defence counsel, E.D. Onyeke opted to file a no-case submission following the close of the prosecution’s case, arguing that “the prosecution has not established a prima facie evidence against the defendant to warrant him to enter his defence”.

The prosecution, in opposing the application, argued that it had, through its witnesses, shown evidence to the court warranting the need for the defendant to open his case.

“From the evidence before this Honourable Court, there is a need for the defendant to come and explain his role as he never used the money for the thing he claimed he wanted to use it for,” Daji said.

Both parties had on 11th March 2022, adopted their written addresses concerning the no-case submission, with the court adjourning till 12th April 2022 (today) for a ruling.

Ruling on the application, Justice Taiwo noted that after carefully listening to the arguments of both parties as well as the written addresses, the court was convinced that there was a need for the defence to open its case.

The Judge held that the defendant, in his statement, admitted issuing the said cheques and also did not deny taking the loan of $1.6 million.

Thereafter, the trial judge dismissed the no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence.

The case has been adjourned till 10th June 2022 for commencement of defence.