EFCC witness narrates how Muritala Adebayo allegedly defrauded son-in-law.

 

IKEJA, Lagos- An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, EFCC, witness, Felicia Paul, has told a Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Lagos State, that Muritala Adebayo, popularly called Oloriebi of Ajaland allegedly collected fraudulently three vehicles and several millions of Naira from his son-in-law Mr. Gafar Adamonleke.

The witness, who is an operative in Lagos office of the commission, led in evidence -in-chief by Babangida Isah, told the court that detailed investigation carried out by her team established that the defendant (Muritala) collected the vehicles and large sum of money from the complainant in exchange for land in Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

The witness further told the court that investigation carried out by her team revealed that while Muritala received some of the funds in cash and his account, as three of his staffers namely: Ahmed, Godwin and Richard also received parts of the funds on behalf of the defendant.

According to the witness, the sum of N4.5million was received by the defendant in respect of the land in Ogombo and cumulative N14.5million was received by the defendant over the land domicile in Ibeju-Lekki.

The witness also said that the defendant, in addition to cash and funds transfer from the nominal complainant also collected one Honda Civic and two Toyota Camry cars worth N9million.

“I know the defendant in the box. My team investigated the case where Mr. Gafar Adamonleke, through his legal practitioner brought the petition to the commission.

“Sometimes in 2015, the nominal complainant met the defendant for the purchase of land at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki. He paid N4.5million for the Ogombo land and N14.5million for the Ibeju-Lekki.

“The complainant gave the defendant three cars. One Honda Civic and two Toyota Camry worth N9million in exchange for land at Ibeju-Lekki.

“The complainant paid the defendant I’m cash and transfer to his account. It is shown in the statement of the complainant.The staffers who collected funds from the complainant on behalf of the defendant are Ahamed, Richard and Godwin.

“When the complainant came to adopt his petition, he brought some documents alongside. He brought the Deed of Assignments for the land in Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki.

“When we began the investigation, we recovered the sum of N4.5million in respect of the property at Ogombo and we handed same to the complainant.

“We have evidence of payments in cash and transfer to the staffers of the defendant. All were acknowledged by the defendant. When the complainant went to the land he met other people on the land at Ogombo,” the witness affirmed.

Upon cross examination by defence counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, the witness maintained that on day of arrest of the defendant, his staffers (Ahmed, Richard and Goddy) were also apprehend and they confirmed that they received the money at different times for the defendant.

Justice Mojisola Dada, thereafter, adjourned the matter to 12th November, 2024 for the continuation of the trial