In
a statement released by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Nigerian Police, it was
said that Ojikutu was declared wanted by the Unit on June 19, 2013 in
connection with the case of obtaining the sum of N130million from the Complainant, one Cajethan Okekearu.
She
was later on February, 4, 2014, arrested at her Lagos Island residence.
According to SFU spokesperson, Ngozi
Isintume-Agu, Ojikutu, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, is a 67-year
old retiree from Lagos Island.
She allegedly connived with her son, one
Samson Adebisi Ojikutu Junior, who is currently in USA to commit the
fraud. Isintume-Agu said: “The suspect
and her son were parties to the sale of the land and both signed the agreement
given to the Complainant and obtained the sum of N130 million from him.
“She admitted the crime
but claimed that it was a genuine mistake of plot identification. She refunded the sum of N50 million to the Complainant and promised to refund the balance
as soon as she disposed her two properties she put up for sale. She also confessed that she had injected the
Complainant’s money in her business.”
Isintume-Agu added that Ojikutu equally made
an undertaking and payment plan which was drawn from September, 2012 and was to
terminate by November 2012, but she defaulted due to lack of fund.
The whole illicit deal got blown open when the
Complainant commenced development on the land and was on the verge of
completion when the bona fide owner of the land surfaced and it was discovered
that the land the suspect sold does not belong to her. She actually sold Plot 23 Block 4 while Plot
24 Block 4 already has a property on it.
“Investigation revealed that the land she sold
did not belong to her, the land belonged to one Mr. Afolabi. It was also discovered that the Plot 24 Block
4, which actually belonged to Late Samson Adebisi Ojikutu Senior, the suspect’s
husband who died in 2008 was sold by him in 1995 and the suspect was a life
witness and appended her signature to the sale of the land,” revealed Isintume-Agu.
She continued: “A financial institution, which
was in possession of the CofO after payment was fully made also tendered the
original CofO which the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State had earlier
declared missing and even sworn an affidavit to.”
It
will be recalled that the suspect, Ojikutu sued the Inspector-General of
Police, the Commissioner of Police SFU and the Complainants in the State High
Court Holden at Igbosere, Lagos with Suit No. M/581/2013, praying the Court to
restrain the police from further investigation into the matter and violation of
fundamental human right.
The
ruling by Justice Obadina (Mrs) on December, 17, 2013, dismissed the suit for
lack of merit, that the Nigeria Police has the power to prosecute the
Applicants, Ojikutu and her son, Sampson Adebisi Ojikutu (Jnr) since the police
investigation revealed that there is prima-facie case of obtaining by false
pretences against them and added that the
Court
will not interfere or restrain the Police in carrying out their statutory
function.
The Nigeria Police, Special Fraud Unit had
made concerted effort to arrest her after Justice Obadina (Mrs) gave the ruling
during the Suit filed by Ojikutu to restrain the Police from further
investigation into the matter.
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