Alleged Crooked Estate Agent Arraigned For Defrauding Son-In-Law, Daughter

CHIEF MURITALA ADEBAYO 

The alleged notorious estate agent, Chief Muritala Adebayo, a.k.a. Oloriebi of Ajah, has been formally arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly defrauding his son-in-law and daughter of a sum to the tune of N19 million.

He was arraigned on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretext.

But not too long after the arraignment of Adebayo, the anti-graft agency’s counsel, Babangida urged the court to give a trial date having pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

However, the counsel for the defence, Bamidele Ogundele hinted to the court of a bail application dated January 24, but the prosecution informed the court that it needed time to go through the bail summon.

The defence lawyer consequently asked the judge for a short date to enable him to move the application.

According to him, “The defendant has health issues and is virtually impaired.

“We pray for a short adjournment for the bail application to be heard because of his health status, my lord.

“He is a 72-year-old man, and he is blind. We also pray that the defendant be allowed to remain in the EFCC custody because of the state of his health so that his doctor can attend to him there.”

Earlier, the prosecution had told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence in 2015 and 2019, respectively, in Lagos.

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

The prosecutor submitted that the defendant also collected the sum of N5.5 million from the complainant as part of the payment for 18 plots of land in Ayogbemi Village in Ibeju-Lekki, which he knew to be false.

He further alleged that the defendant collected two Toyota Camry 2005 Model cars and one Honda Accord 2006 Model, valued at N9 million from the complainant that the payment was for the balance of the 18 plots of land in Ibeju, a presentation he knew to be false.

According to the prosecutor, the alleged offence contravened Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, adjourned until Feb 9 for a hearing of the bail application.

Justice Dada ordered that the defendant should remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

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