N5m Fraud: Court Revokes Fugitive Defendant, Adelana’s Bail

Justice D. Z. Senchi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on February 20, 2018 revoked the bail earlier granted to one Victoria Adenike Adelana, following her refusal to attend court to face trial on a charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Adelana, a civil engineer, was said to have defrauded one Chinenye Ike to the tune of N5million under the pretext of purchasing a plot of land for him in Maitama, Extension II, Abuja.

The count reads:

“That you, Victoria Adenike Adelana on or about the 6th of November, 2011 in Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Five Million  Naira (N5,000,000) from one Chinenye Ike under the false pretence of purchasing a plot of land for him in Maitama Extension II which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to S.1(1)b of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under S.1(3) of the same Act”.

Upon arraignment in May, 2016, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and was subsequently granted bail on June 6, 2016 pending trial. Adelana has since then remained evasive as she never returned to court to stand trial.

After a long period of absence from court without reason, the court issued bench warrant against her and she was subsequently declared wanted by the EFCC.

The fugitive was eventually arrested on February 10, 2018 by operatives of the EFCC and brought to court to stand trial.

At the resumed trial, Justice Senchi revoked the bail earlier granted the accused person and ordered the prosecution to enter its witnesses.

Thereafter, counsel to the EFCC, Dianne Nkwaap, presented the prosecution’s first witness, Frank Kamalu.

Kamalu told the court that he came to know the defendant while looking for a plot of land for one Hon. Chinenye Ike (the complainant) in Abuja and thereafter introduced them to each other.

He added that after the introduction, Ike called to tell him that he gave Adelana N5million to get a plot of land for him (Ike) at Lamorde Estate, Life Camp, Abuja.

The Judge at this point adjourned to March 5, 2018 for continuation of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja prison custody.