By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A legal practitioner and publisher of Esquire Law Magazine, Barrister Lere Fashola, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court in connection with alleged N20 million property fraud.
Lere Fashola and his company, Legal Blitz Ltd were arraigned by the Advanced Fee Fraud Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge of stealing and issuance of dud cheques.
According to the EFCC Prosecutor, Mrs Joy Amahian, the defendants committed the offences in Lagos between January 5 and February 28, 2018.
The anti-graft agency told the court that Fashola was arrested, following a petition by his client, Mr Adeyemi Adebola, alleging that the lawyer ( first defendant) had under false pretences, obtained N20 million from him (Adebola) during a transaction for the purchase of a property. located at Plot 732, Block XXVII (27), Omole Residential Scheme, Phase 2, Isheri, Lagos.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendant dishonestly converted to his own use, the N20 million which was deposited by Adebola for the purchase of the property.
“Knowing that he had insufficient funds in his Diamond Bank Plc account, the defendant on June 4, 2018, issued a dud cheque with number 53160448 in the sum of N10 million.
“He also issued on June 4, 2018, another cheque with number 53160450 also in the sum of N10 million.
“Both cheques were issued to refund Adebola his money but were returned unpaid, due to insufficient funds,” the prosecutor submitted.
According to prosecutor Amahian, the offences contravene Sections 278(1)(f) and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and Section 1(1)(b) and (i) Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act 2004.
After hearing the charge preferred against him and his company, Fashola, organiser of Esquire Nigerian Legal Awards pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After the plea was taken in which the defendant pleaded not guilty, defence counsel, Mrs Joy Agu, sought for adjournment to enable her serve the EFCC with a copy of the bail application.
Obliging her request, Solebo adjourned the case until February 10 for hearing of the bail application.
Justice Sherifat Solebo ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility. However, the judge did not mention the correctional facility where Fashola would be remanded.
“Pending the hearing and the determination of the bail application, the defendant is ordered to be remanded at the correctional facility,” Solebo ordered.
