By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday ordered the remand of Bamise Ajetunmobi, a Ponzi Scheme Operator, who has been eluding arraignment since 2021, over alleged N7.5 billion fraud.
Justice Aneke, remanded the Ponzi Scheme Operator after he pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of charge preferred against him by the Officers of Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Arraigning the defendant, prosecutor Morufu Animashaun Esq, a legal officer in the FCIID, annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, submitted that the defendant conspired with his wife Elizabeth Ajetunmobi, who is now at large, and their company, Imaging Global Solutions Limited, to commit the offences sometime in February 2021.
According to the charge before the court, the defendant and his wife convinced their fraud victims with 10 per cent returns on investment, to commit the offences.
Among those allegedly defrauded by the defendant and the sums received from them are: Mr Olawale Lawal, N1.5 billion; Mrs. Kate Omu, N500 million, Mr. Erhi Catherine Ojoboh, N2 billion, and Mr. Abioye Idris, N3.5 billion.
The charge stated that the offences committed by the defendant contravened Sections 8 (a), 1(a)(c) and 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and were punishable under Section I (3) of the same Act.
Furthermore, the offences are contrary to Section 383 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 390 (a) of the same Act.
Before the arraignment, the prosecutor told the court that the charge preferred against the defendant was filed in 2022 and that when the defendant became elusive, the police secured a warrant of arrest from the court.
He told the court that the defendant was however arrested by International Police (Interpol) in Ivory Coast, this year.
However, by oral application, Animashaun urged the court to strike out the name of the defendant’s wife from the charge, so that the defendant’s arraignment can go on.
Following the submission made by the prosecutor, Justice Aneke struck out the name of the defendant’s wife from the charge and ordered that the charge be read to the defendant.
After hearing the charge preferred against him, the defendant who has no legal representation pleaded not guilty to the 12 counts charge.
In view of the defendant’s ‘not guilty’ plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date. He also urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against him.
Consequently, Justice Aneke ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services, and adjourned the matter till November 29, for the commencement of trial.
