An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Illyasu Dauda, has testified before a Lagos Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja that 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 Lagos State.
The witness, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Babangida Isah, told the court that the defendant received payments for the alleged phoney 18 plots of land through bank transfers made to one Godwin Richard and also collected three vehicles as part payment for the said land.
Dauda, an EFCC operative, stated that the anti-graft agency’s efforts to settle the matter amicably out of court were thwarted by the defendant.
He further testified: “The defendant was interviewed in our office and made a confessional statement, admitting that he would give the nominal complainant the land.
“We tried to negotiate an out-of-court settlement, 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, Mr Bamidele Ogundele, the witness told the court that the N4.5 million given to the nominal complainant regarding the Ogombo land was part of the funds recovered during the investigation.
He maintained his earlier testimony in his evidence-in-chief, stating that three vehicles were received by the defendant as part payment for the land, as admitted during the investigation.
He denied claims that all the vehicles were Nigerian-used, affirming instead that two of the vehicles were Tokunbo (imported used vehicles), while one was Nigerian-used.
Mr. Adamonleke, the complainant in the suit and the defendant’s son-in-law, had, on April 16, 2024, narrated to the court how his father-in-law allegedly defrauded him of millions of naira and three vehicles under the pretence of selling non-existent land to him.
Earlier, there was a mild drama in court when the defence counsel informed the court that he had received a call from a judiciary correspondent about a petition submitted by the nominal complainant.
Ogundele further told the court that bloggers had been publishing various allegations against his client after every court proceeding.
However, when the court asked Ogundele to name the judiciary correspondent or provide their phone number, the counsel was unable to do so.
The nominal complainant, Mr Gafar Adamonleke, signalled his intention to address the issue.
Upon being recognized by the court, he confirmed that he had submitted his petition to the Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal) of the Lagos State Judiciary and the Chairman of the EFCC.
He added that he had also submitted the court's copy of the petition to the Registrar.
The court then directed the Registrar to produce the petition, which was immediately presented in compliance with the court's order.
The petitioner, in the petition, criticized the absence of relevant documents essential to his case and the failure of the prosecution to arraign the defendant's aides who had collected funds on behalf of Mr Muritala Adebayo.
He also alleged that the defendant had used fraudulent documents to meet his bail conditions and prayed the court to revoke the bail.
The petitioner urged the court to take action against all perpetrators of the alleged fraud.
On January 24, 2024, the EFCC had arraigned the defendant on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Commission alleged that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4.5 million from Mr Adamonleke by falsely claiming the payment was for three plots of land in Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos State, a representation he knew to be false.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendant collected an additional N5.5 million from the complainant as part payment for 18 plots of land in Ayogbemi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, knowing the claim to be false.
It was also alleged that the defendant received two Toyota Camry cars (2005 model) and one Honda Accord car (2006 model), valued at nine million naira, as part payment for the 18 plots of land at Ibeju-Lekki, a representation he knew to be false.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Justice Mojisola Dada subsequently adjourned the matter to December 11, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
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