A Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday remanded a lawyer and two others in prison, for fraudulently obtaining N155million.The lawyer, Idowu Adebayo Micheal, as well as Mukaila Fakos and Rasaq Sefiu Adesina, were charged on an 11-count charge. They were alleged to have carried out the offence bordering on conspiracy to carry out the unlawful purpose.
The charges included fraudulent disposal of trust property, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and altering of document.The prosecution said the offence is contrary to section 518(6), 434, 390(9), 516, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17 Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.The offence also breached Section 8(a) and 1(3), 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
According to the prosecution, the defendants sometime in 2009 conspired to unlawfully unauthorise the sale of property belonging to Idowu Musiliu Ololape Balogun.
The offence was allegedly committed at No 2, Kayode Taiwo Street, Magodo, Lagos without Balogun’s consent.The defendants, Adesina and Fakos were said to have sold the landed property to the lawyer for N35 million.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants obtained N120million from one Lanre Obiesan, by falsely representing to him that they were authorised to sell a property at No 5c Micheal Ogun Street, GRA, Ikeja.Also, they were alleged to have forged document titled: “Special Resolution of Musbal Nigeria Ltd” dated December 8, 2010.
The fake “Form CAC 7” and “consent letter by Ayoola Fakos” was allegedly presented to Guarantee Trust Bank as genuine.After their plea, the prosecution counsel, Emmanuel Jackson, prayed the court to remand the defendants pending the next adjourned date.However, the defendants counsel, Lawal Pedro (SAN) told the court that the third defendant, (Micheal) had filed an application for bail.
He added that the accused had been granted bail by the Magistrate’s court, and prayed the court not to remand his client, noting that he came to the court from the police custody. Counsel to the second defendants also adopted Pedro’s submission.The trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, ordered them to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned hearing on the bail application till February 26, 2018.
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