Alleged N20m Fraud: Court Fixes July 1 For Judgment of Three Defendants in Lagos
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday, May 22, 2023, fixed July 1, 2024 for judgment in the trial of the trio of Ugorji Clinton, Obinanwa Abiodun and Kehinde Adewusi, who are facing trial over an alleged N20m fraud.
They are being prosecuted on amended two-count charges bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to Section 8 (a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, as well as and attempt to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to Section 8 (b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Ugorji Ugochukwu Clinton, Obinanwa Vincent Abiodun and Kehinde Adewusi, on or about the 29th day of July, 2016 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) from Sageto Limited.”
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Another count reads: “That you, Ugorji Ugochukwu Clinton, Obinanwa Vincent Abiodun and Kehinde Adewusi, on or about the 29th day of July, 2016 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) from Sageto Limited under the false pretence that the instruction to transfer the sum of N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) emanated from the Managing Director of Sageto Limited for the benefit of Ololade Olasunkanmi, which pretence you knew was false.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the second defendant was, again, absent in court.
According to the prosecution counsel, S.O. Daji, “the second defendant has been absent for two different times now and he has not been apprehended.”
He, therefore, prayed the court to “allow parties to adopt their final written addresses, in line with the Section 345 of the ACJL 2021 as amended”.
The trial Judge granted the prayer , and there was no objection from the defence.
Adopting the final written address of the prosecution dated April 12, 2024, Jaji urged the court to “convict the defendants as charged and to hold that the prosecution has proven all the ingredients of the offences,”
Counsel to the first defendant, Osita Mbamali, in adopting his final written address, prayed the court to “dismiss the charges and to discharge and acquit” his client.
Also, counsel to the third defendant, O.A. Afolabi, in adopting his final written address, urged the court to free his client of any wrongdoing.
“We urge the court to discharge and acquit the third defendant,” he said.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter till July 1, 2024 “for judgment”.
