Court Remands Lagos Engineer Over Alleged N40m Fraud

The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos on Tuesday ordered that an engineer, Adeleke Adebesin, who was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) of the Nigeria Police, over alleged N40 million fraud, be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till March 11, when his bail application will be heard and determined.

Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered the remand of the Engineer after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was arraigned by police prosecutor, Sylvester Azubike alongside his company, Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig. Ltd and one James Oladimeji Ogunsango, said to be at large.

Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered the remand of the Engineer after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defence counsel, E. N. Offiah, however told the court that he was just being briefed of the matter, and that he needed a short date to file his client’s bail application.

Consequently, Justice Aluko adjourned the case to March 11, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the NCoS, till the hearing and determination of the bail application.

The 53-year-old engineer, according to police, had sometimes in 2019, induced a Lagos business man, Taiye Fajana, the Chairman of Twins Faja Nigeria Ltd, to deliver to him the sum of N40 million.

The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant, his company and the other, said to be at large, issued Stanbic IBTC bank cheques with cheque number 20218203 and account number 00234349 dated October 30, 2019, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favour of Twins Faja Nig Ltd, as part payment of a retuned of N40 Million which you obtained through your Company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, but when the cheque was presented at the bank, it was dishonoured for lack of sufficient funds.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened sections 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offence Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the said Act. And Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, 2004.

Charges against the defendant reads: “that you Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’, Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig. Ltd And James Oladimeji Ogunsango now at large sometimes in March 2019 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, by means of Contract of Sale, induced one Mr. Taiye Fajana, the Chairman of Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, to deliver to you, the sum of N40 million, by falsely representing to him that you own a piece or parcel of land situate, lying at Lekki-Epe Expressway, beside Farapark Estate Sangotedo Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State,which you said is available for sale for N40 million, and the money represented the cost of purchase of the property and that you were ready, willing and prepared to hand over the said property to him which representation you knew to be false or does not believe to be true, by this conduct, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offence Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the said Act.

“That you, Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’ and Kings Intercontinental Homes And Properties Nig. Ltd, sometimes in March 2019 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, while operating under the name and style of Kings Intercontinental Homes and properties Nig Ltd, issued Stanbic IBTC bank cheques with cheque number 20218203 and Account number 00234349 dated 30th day of October 2019, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favour of Twins Faja Nig Ltd as part payment of a retuned of N40 million which you obtained through your Company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, however,upon presentation of the cheque for payment was dishonoured for lack of sufficient fund in the account against which the Cheque was issued, to meet the value of the said cheque and by this conduct , you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, 2004

“That you, Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’ And Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig Ltd sometimes in March 2019, in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, while operating under the name and style of Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig Ltd, issued Stanblc IBTC Bank cheques with cheque number 20218202 and account number 0023434962 dated 5th day of February 2020, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favor of Twins Faja Nig Ltd as part payment of a refund of N40 million, which you obtain through your company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, however, upon presentation of the cheque for payment was dishonored for lack of sufficient fund in the account against which he cheque was issued, to meet the value of the said cheque and by this conduct, you hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a)(i) of the dishonored cheques (Offences) Act, 2004.”