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A top Lagos based lawyer has been
remanded in the Kirikiri Prison over N117 million scam.
The lawyer, Barrister Babatunde Ojo, yesterday arraigned by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the
Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on a 48-count charge bordering on obtaining
money by false pretence, forgery and issuance of dud cheques. When the charges
were read to Ojo, he pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ipaye, however, ordered that the defendant be
remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prison and adjourned the matter
till March, 18 and 19, 2015 for trial.
According to the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Ojo
allegedly used his company, Amberville Communications Limited, to obtain the
sum of N117, 350, 000.00 from Mr. Mathew Awodiya of First Hebron Homes and
Investment Limited in the guise of allocating 50 shops at HFP Eastline Shopping
Complex, Ajah, Lagos, to them.
Uwujaren said: “The victim was allegedly linked to Ojo by one of the directors of the Shopping Complex. He was told that, the amount per shop was N4, 000,000, with 50 shops, costing N200, 000,000. The victim negotiated for 50 shops but paid a deposit of N117, 350, 000.00 However, the director that linked the victim with Ojo later denied knowledge of any transaction for sale of shops with the suspect, and invariably debunked claims of having received payment from the suspect. All efforts to get a refund of the money paid for the shops proved abortive.”
Uwujaren said: “The victim was allegedly linked to Ojo by one of the directors of the Shopping Complex. He was told that, the amount per shop was N4, 000,000, with 50 shops, costing N200, 000,000. The victim negotiated for 50 shops but paid a deposit of N117, 350, 000.00 However, the director that linked the victim with Ojo later denied knowledge of any transaction for sale of shops with the suspect, and invariably debunked claims of having received payment from the suspect. All efforts to get a refund of the money paid for the shops proved abortive.”
One of the charges read:
“Babatunde Ojo and Amberville Communications Limited, on or about the 13th day of April, 2010 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N15, 000,000 from Awodiya Olusegun Mathew under the false pretence that the money was part payment for purchase of fifty shops from HFP Engineering Limited at HFP Eastline Shopping Complex, KM 26, Epe Expressway, Ajah, which representation you knew to be false”.
Prosecuting counsel, Vera Agboje prayed the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody. However, defence counsel, R. U. Nnamani urged the court to allow her present application for bail at the next adjourned date and applied that the suspect be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Ipaye, felt it was better for Ojo to be remanded pending the next trial date.
“Babatunde Ojo and Amberville Communications Limited, on or about the 13th day of April, 2010 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N15, 000,000 from Awodiya Olusegun Mathew under the false pretence that the money was part payment for purchase of fifty shops from HFP Engineering Limited at HFP Eastline Shopping Complex, KM 26, Epe Expressway, Ajah, which representation you knew to be false”.
Prosecuting counsel, Vera Agboje prayed the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody. However, defence counsel, R. U. Nnamani urged the court to allow her present application for bail at the next adjourned date and applied that the suspect be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Ipaye, felt it was better for Ojo to be remanded pending the next trial date.
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