$156,700 Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Fraud: Bola Fasasi granted bail

Admin l Friday, July 8, 2022

 

IKEJA, Nigeria – A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos today granted bail in the sum of N20 million to Bola Fasasi, a co-defendant in a  USD 156,700 fraud case involving  Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Prof. Adesanya Adelekan.

Bola Fasasi is to produce  two sureties in like sum. Sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of three years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government  and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and undertake to place lien on their bank accounts.

The defendant must in addition submit his international passport to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC. Dada adjourned the case until  Oct. 18 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, defence counsel, Mr Oludotun Tadefemi,  prayed the court to grant Fasasi  bail on liberal terms. He said that the application for bail was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit sworn by the chief accountant of Macmillan Nigeria.

“The affidavit states clearly that this company has been in existence for over 50 years in this country and has never been exposed to any charge from law enforcement agencies.

“This is a civil matter between two parties. The last paragraph of the petition, which the complainant wrote  to EFCC,  states that  the complainant only wants his money back. I urge your lordship to  admit the second defendant to bail in liberal terms because he has gone through a lot and will be needed  to make sure this money is recovered.

“We admit there is an outstanding. The books are in the warehouse and need to be sold, my lord, so that the money can be recovered,” he said.

Responding, EFCC counsel, Mr Ayanfe Ogunsina,  informed the court  that the commission also filed an eight-paragraph counter-affidavit dated  July 5.

“We humbly seek to adopt the position in the affidavit, my lord. All the issues being raised are just diversionary. Without  labouring the matter, I humbly urge my lord  to give bail at the discretion of the court,” Ogunsina said.

EFCC had on June 20 arraigned Fasasi  on an amended six-count charge  bordering on obtaining money under false pretences. He, however,  pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC stated in the charge sheet:  “Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Bola Fasasi, sometime in 2018, obtained books worth $156,711.87 for sale  by false pretences from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia.”

It said that the defendants,  under false pretences, promised to sell the books and remit the proceeds  within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading.

“Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Bola Fasasi, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to obtain goods by false pretences, property of BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia,” it added