By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The absence of a Lagos Monarch, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega and six others from court stalled their scheduled arraignment before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Consequently Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court Lagos further adjourned to June 24, for their arraignment over alleged fraud of N29.3 million.
Others to be arraigned with the monarch are: Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole; Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki; Mrs Jemilatu Busari; Amoda Ibrahim and Adams Adebiyi, as first to seventh defendants respectively in a four count-charge marked FHC/L/80c/2024, filed against them by the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The arraignment of the defendants was slated for Tuesday May 7. When the matter was called, Elliot Ejie Esq announced appearance for the prosecution /complainant while Abayomi Fagbayi Esq. announced his appearance for all the defendants. In informing the court why the defendants were not in court, their counsel said: “the charge was served on them by virtue of order of this court.
“Also, I took further steps to contact all the defendants, particularly, the first defendant (Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole), who is the only one that could receive the charge, and he told me that the second defendant (Monsuru Abimbola Oladega), is now in abroad for medical trip, and the rest are not residing within the community.
“Even though, they told me that they will come together and discuss the charge, I’ll bring them to court on the next adjourned date.”
Responding, the prosecutor, said he is not opposing the adjournment request of the counsel.
Consequently, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to June 24, for the arraignment of all the defendants.
In the charge preferred against the defendants, they were alleged to have between 2014 and 2022, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the sum of N29.3 million, 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila; Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and the Amicable Friends Estate, under the pretence of allocating 15 acres and 4 plots of Odoyi’s family land, situate at Oko-Agbon, Agboyi 1, Lagos State, to them.
Counts one and four of the charges against all the defendants read: “That you Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole ‘M’, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega ‘M’, Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki ‘M’, Jemilatu Busari ‘F’, Amoda Ibrahim ‘M’, Adams Adebiyi ‘M’, and others at large, sometimes in 2014 did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining a total sum of twenty-nine million and three hundred thousand naira (N29, 300, 000.00); one 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila, one Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and the Amicable Friends Estate, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a), Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you Abdulfatai Akinwale Bankole ‘M’, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega ‘M’, Abubakar Seriki ‘M’, Razak Alayaki Seriki ‘M’, Jemilatu Busari ‘F’, Amoda Ibrahim ‘M’, Adams Adebiyi ‘M’, and others at large, between 2014 and 2022, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did retain a total sum of twenty-nine million and three hundred thousand naira (N29, 300, 000.00); One 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep; One 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; and one Toyota Camry car, which formed proceeds of an unlawful act of obtaining by false pretence from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila, One Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and The Amicable Friends Estate, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2){d), Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Prior to today’s proceedings and due to the inability of the police to reach the defendants for the service of the charge, Justice Aluko had on March 18, 2024, ordered that the charge be served on their counsel, Abayomi Fagbayi.
The judge made the order while granting a motion Ex-parte dated and filed on March 4, and moved by the prosecutor, Barrister Elliott Ijie.
In granting the motion Exparte, Justice Aluko held that: “And upon reading affidavit in support of the motion paper sworn to by CSP Sunday Akeregun, Male, Christian a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria anda Police Officer attached to Police Special Fraud Unit 13, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
“And the court having heard Eliot Omonyimenle Ijie, Esq., for the Complainant who moved in terms praying it to grant the reliefs sought as endorsed on the motion paper.
“And the court having considered it deserving granted the prayers sought; that leave is granted to the Applicant to serve Charge number; FHC/L/80c/2024 dated February, 2024 on the defendants by substituted means through their legal practitioner, one Abayomi Fagbayi, Esq., of Abayomi Fagbayi Law Place, No. 2 Aina Ala Close, 2nd Gate, GRA Otta, Ogun State,
080232928884, 08069280868. fagbayiesq@gmail.com C/O Sola Oyewo, No. 3 Seriki Aro Avenue. Ikeja, Lagos State.
“That an Order directing legal practitioner, Abayomi Fagbayi Esq, of Abayomi Fagbayi Law Place, No. 2 Aina Ala Close, 254 Gate, GRA Otta, Ogun State. 080232928884, 06069280868. fagbayiesq@gmail.com C/O Sola Oyewo, No. 3, Seriki Aro Avenue, Ikeja Lagos State, to report notice of compliance to this Honourable Court at next adjourned date is hereby granted.
