Azeez Folorunso
AN alleged notorious estate agent, Chief Muritala Adebayo (also known as Oloriebi Ajah), was today formally arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.
He was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by pretence.
Shortly after his arraignment, EFCC counsel, Mr Babangida Isah urged the court for a trial date given his not guilty plea.
The defence counsel, Mr Bamidele Ogundele, however, informed the court of a bail application dated 24 January 2024. However, the prosecution informed the court that it needed time to go through it and respond appropriately.
Barrister Ogundele thereafter prayed for a short adjournment to enable him to move the application.
According to him, the defendant has health issues and is visually impaired. “We pray for a short adjournment for the bail application to be heard because of my client’s health status, my lord.
“He is a 72-year-old man and he is blind.
“We also pray that the defendant is remanded in EFCC custody because of the state of his health so that his doctor can attend to him there,” he pleaded.
The prosecution had earlier told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence in 2015 and 2019, respectively in Lagos.
Isah said that the defendant, with an intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4.5 million from Mr Gafar Ademolake, his in-law, by falsely informing him that the payment was for three plots of land at Ogombo, Ajah in Lagos, a presentation he knew to be false.
The prosecutor submitted that the defendant also collected the sum of N5.5 million from the complainant as part of the payment for a non-existent 18 plots of land in Ayogbemi Village in Ibeju-Lekki.
He further alleged that the defendant collected two Toyota Camry 2005 Model cars and one Honda Accord 2006 Model, valued at N9 million from the complainant and that the payment was for the balance of the said 18 plots of land in Ibeju.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case till 9 February 2024 for a hearing of the bail application.
Justice Dada ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Eighteen-Eleven Media