Police dock senior officer, Jerry Ogunsakin over alleged N128m fraud
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, on behalf of the Inspector-general of Police on Thursday arraigned a Senior Police Officer, Jerry Ogunsakin, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and unlawful conversation of sum of N128 million.
Ogunsakin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was arraigned on a three-count charge preferred against him by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Lagos.
While the defendant was in the dock, the charge preferred against him was read to him by the court registrar.
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The prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, who held the brief of Mr. Justine Enang of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on November 15, 2022.
According to the charge, the defendant conspired with Ogbu Patricia a.k.a. Lamba, Michael Babatunde a.k.a Orija, Bolaji Sobande a.k.a. Barr. Onifade, Peter Ben and Alhaja Idris Wada a.k.a. Coker, all said to be at large.
The defendant was alleged to have connived with others at large and fraudulently obtained the sum of N128 million from their victim, a businessman, Esomonu Everest, with false pretence that they have United States Dollars (USD) equivalent to sell.
The police officer was also accused of converting the said sum of N128 million to his personal use.
According to the charge, the defendant’s act, contravened Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
Furthermore, the defendant’s action is contrary to and punishable under Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as Amended in 2012.
The police officer however pleaded not guilty to the all the counts..
Following his ‘not guilty’ plea, the prosecutor asked for trial date, and also urged the court to remand him in the correctional facility till the determination of the charge.
His counsel, Mr. Kole Bello, did not oppose the prosecutor’s request.
Consequently, Justice Aneke, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), and adjourned the matter till July 19, for trial.
Earlier, the police have arraigned four men, in relation to the alleged crime before the court sometimes in February this year.
The four men are: Ibikunle Wasiu, John Babatunde,Taiwo Michael Fagbayimu and Pius Irabor, a.k.a. John.
