Lagos court remands agripreneur in custody, adjourns case until October 23 to begin trial
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Lagos court has remanded an agribusiness operator Oluwadahunsola Taiwo in custody for allegedly defrauding an investor of N11.2 million, in a case being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling was given by Judge O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja in the suit filed against Taiwo and his company, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solution Limited, on a two-count charge involving obtaining money under false pretences.
Court documents show that the complainant, Adepoju Idowu, allegedly invested various sums in several agricultural ventures that Taiwo promoted between February and October 2020.
These allegedly included:
- N1.5 million investment in a vegetable plantation in February 2020, with a promised 30 per cent return every three months.
- N1.06 million investment in a rice farm in April 2020, with a projected 40 per cent return every six months.
- N4.9 million invested in Green Wealth Project (1 Year Tenor) on 30 October 2020, advertised with an annual 30 per cent return.
- Another N4.9 million invested in Green Wealth Project (3 Year Tenor) under similar terms.
Idowu also alleged that
- All transactions were made to Green Eagles Agribusiness Solution via First Bank account number 2033169176.
- The company failed to deliver the promised returns, and all efforts to reach Taiwo were not successful.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Oluwadajunsola Taiwo, and Green Eagles Agribusiness Solution Limited, between February and October 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use an aggregate sum of N11,260,000.00 (eleven million, two hundred and sixty thousand naira), property of Adepoju Idowu, thereby committing an offence of Stealing contrary to Section 285(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
Taiwo pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
Prosecuting counsel R.A. Abdulrasheed requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
The Judge ordered Taiwo remanded and adjourned the case to October 23 for commencement of trial.
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