Police arraign man over alleged conversion of client’s goods worth N40m
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road, Ikoyi Lagos has arraigned one Eremosele Jerome Ijewere before Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High court sitting in Lagos on a three count charge of money laundering and illegal conversion of the sum of N40 million belonging to one Bamisile Adebayo.
When the matter came up on Thursday for arraignment, the prosecutor Mr M.Y Bello told Justice Osiagor that the prosecution has a three counts charge pending before the court and urged the court to direct that the charge be read so that Ijewere can take his plea.
The charge was then read on the order of the court and the defendant pleaded not guilty to same.
Upon the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor Mr Bello asked for a trial date and the remand of the defendant.
However, counsel to the defendant, Mr Shehu Popoola informed the court that he has a pending bail application and that the prosecution has been served.
He urged the court to allow him move the said bail application.
After hearing the bail application and the prosecution’s objection to same, Justice Osiagor admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety.
The judge added that the surety must either be a civil servant not less than Grade Level 12 in Lagos State employment or Federal Civil service.
The trial judge further added that the surety must produce three years tax clearance certificate and deposit two passport photographs while the defendant is to deposit his International Passport with the court.
Justice Osiagor also ordered that the court Deputy Registrar should verify the authenticity of the documents presented for the perfection of the bail.
He then adjourned the matter till November 27, 2025 for commencement of trial.
The charge against the defendant reads:
Count 1
That you EREMOSELE JEROME IJEWERE ‘Male’ and others at large on or about 24th December. 2024 in Lagos State within the Jurisdiction of Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did Conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Money Laundering to the tune of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Count 2
That you EREMOSELE JEROME IJEW ERE ‘M’ and others at large on or about 24th December 2024 in Lagos State within the Jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did convert or divert proceeds of goods valued N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) assigned to you on the understanding that you will deliver same to a customer in Kaduna through your driver James Godspower and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibited) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Count 3
That you EREMOSELE JEROME IJEWERE ‘M’ and others now at large on or about 24th December, 2024 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to permanently deprive the owner of the goods did diverts or converts goods value N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million) Property of Bamisile Adebayo which was assigned to you on the understanding that you will deliver same to a customer in Kaduna through your driver James Godspower, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(2)(a) of Criminal Code Act CAP. C38 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the same Act.
