How Oloriebi of Ajahland stole 18 plots from son-in-law – Witness

Admin I Friday,November 2024

 

IKEJA, Lagos – A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Illyasu Dauda, has told a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja how Mr Muritala Adebayo (a.k.a Oloriebi of Ajahland) allegedly defrauded his son-in-law, Mr Gafar Adamonleke, of eighteen (18) plots of land in the Ajah area of the state.

The witness, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Babangida Isah, told the court that the defendant received funds for the payment of alleged phony 18 plots of land through bank transfers to one Godwin Richard and collection of three vehicles as part payments for the said land.

Dauda, who is an operative of the EFCC, said the anti-graft agency’s efforts to ensure that the matter reached an amicable out-of-court settlement were aborted by the defendant.

He further said: “The defendant was interviewed in our office where he made a confessional statement, where he admitted that he would give the nominal compliant land.

“We tried to negotiate to broker settlement, an out-of-court resolution but Mr. Muritala refused to abide by the terms.”

The defendant’s First Bank Statement of Account was tendered through the witness and admitted as an exhibit before the court.

Under cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, the witness told the court that N4.5 million given to the nominal complainant on the Ogombo land was part of funds recovered in the course of their investigation.

He also maintained his earlier testimony in his evidence-in-chief that three vehicles were received by the defendant as part payments for the land as admitted when he was under investigation.

He denied that all the vehicles were Nigerian used, as he maintained before the court that two of the vehicles were Tokunbo while one was Nigerian used.

Mr Adamonlake, who is the complainant in the suit and son-in-law to the defendant, had, on 16th April 2024, told the court how his father-in-law allegedly defrauded him of millions of Naira and three vehicles under the guise of selling non-existing land to him.

Earlier, there was a mild drama in court when the defence counsel informed the court that he was called by a judiciary correspondent informing him of a petition by the nominal complainant.

Barrister Ogundele further told the court that bloggers have written all sorts of stories against his client at every proceeding of the court.

But when the court asked Barrister Ogundele to name the judiciary correspondent who called him, the learned counsel failed to either name the correspondent or give the court number of the judiciary correspondent who called him.

The nominal complainant (Mr Gafar Adamonlake), however, signalled his intention to say something concerning the issue.

On being recognized by the court, he confirmed that he had submitted his petition to the Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal) of Lagos State Judiciary and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He further stated that he had submitted the court’s copy to the Registrar of the court.

The court, thereafter, called on the Registrar to produce the copy to the court, and he complied with the order of the court immediately.

The petitioner, according to the petition, frowned at the non-availability of relevant documents that are important for his case as well as the failure of the prosecution to arraign defendant aides who collected funds from him on behalf of Muritala Adebayo.

The petitioner further alleged that the defendant’s bail conditions were not met as the defendant fraudulently used fake documents to secure his bail.

He prayed the court to revoke his bail as well as called on the perpetrators of the alleged fraud to be dealt with according to the law.

EFCC had also on 24th January 2024, arraigned the defendant on a three-count charge bordering

on obtaining money by false pretence.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Commission alleged that the defendant, with an intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4.5 million from Ademolake by falsely informing him that the payment was for three plots of land at Ogombo Ajah in Lagos State, a presentation he knew to be false.

EFCC added that the defendant collected another N5.5 million from the complainant as part-payment for 18 plots of land in Ayogbemi Village in Ibeju-Lekki, which he knew to be false.

It further alleged that the defendant collected two Toyota Camry (2005 model) and one Honda Accord (2006 model), valued at nine million Naira from the complainant as part of payment for the 18 plots of land at Ibeju, a presentation he knew to be false.

According to EFCC, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Justice Mojisola Dada, thereafter, adjournment the matter to 11th December, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.