The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, arraigned one Oluwafunmilayo Samuel Adenmosu alongside his company, H. T. Real Estate Limited, before Justice J. O. Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on an 18-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N108, 744, 080.00(One Hundred and Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Eighty Naira).
The accused, a lawyer, had, sometime in 2008, allegedly approached the complainant, Mathew Dickson Aiyeola, Managing Director, Golden Treasure Investment Limited, claiming that his company was registered to deal in banking and foreign exchange business.
The complainant alleged that bank drafts totalling N108, 744, 080.00 were issued in favour of H.T. Real Estate Limited, at different times, for the purchase of $921, 560.00 on the agreed rate with the accused, who also who claimed to be a director in a new generation bank.
The complainant further alleged that the accused, after much pressure, issued a cheque for N6, 000,000.00, which was not honoured upon presentation due to insufficient amount in his account.
Efforts by the complainant to get a refund were unsuccessful.
One of the counts reads: ‘‘That you, Oluwafunmilayo Samuel Ademosu and H. T. Real Estate Limited on or about the 4th day of August, 2008 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N16,000.000.00 (Sixteen Million Naira Only) from Golden Treasure Investment Ltd. through its Managing Director, Mr. Mathew Dickson Aiyeola, under the pretence that the money represented part payment for $921,560 (Nine Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Dollars) available for sale which pretence you knew was false.”
Another count reads: ‘‘ That you, Oluwafunmilayo Samuel Ademosu and H. T. Real Estate Limited on or about the 21st day of August, 2008 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N46,866.750.00 (Forty -six Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty- six Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira Only) from Golden Treasure Investment Ltd. through its Managing Director Mr. Mathew Dickson Aiyeola under the pretence that the money represented part payment for $921,560 (Nine Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Dollars) available for sale which pretence you knew was false.”
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Samuel Daji, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
However, counsel to the defendant, O. A. Fashuba, pleaded with the court to grant the accused bail on self- recognizance.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Oyefeso ordered the accused to be remanded in Ikoyi prison.
The case was adjourned to March 24, 2017 for the counsel to the accused to file necessary applications and April 7 and 10, 2017 for the commencement of trial.
