The trial of Muritala Adebayo, an estate agent widely known as the “Oloriebi of Ajahland,” has suffered a setback due to the absence of prosecuting counsel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.
Adebayo is facing multiple charges bordering on fraud, following allegations that he swindled his son-in-law, Mr Gafar Ademolake, out of cash and vehicles through a sham land transaction involving 18 plots of land in Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
At the scheduled hearing for the commencement of trial, defence counsel, Mr Bamidele Ogundele informed the court that none of the EFCC prosecutors were present.
“My Lord, the prosecution is not represented,” Ogundele told the court.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, who presided over the matter, directed the defence to inform the EFCC of the new adjournment date to avoid further delays.
Ogundele suggested that the complainant’s lawyer, who was in court, could handle that responsibility, but the judge rejected the suggestion and maintained that the duty rests with the defence counsel.
According to the EFCC’s charge, Adebayo allegedly defrauded Mr Ademolake of ₦4.5 million under the false claim of selling him three plots of land at Ogombo, Ajah.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Adebayo collected another ₦5.5 million from the complainant as part-payment for 18 plots of land at Ayogbemi Village in Ibeju-Lekki, which did not exist.
In addition to the monetary transactions, Adebayo is said to have received three vehicles, two Toyota Camrys (2005 models) and a Honda Accord (2006 model), valued at ₦9 million, as part of the fraudulent land deal.
The EFCC maintains that the alleged offences violate Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The matter has been adjourned to a new date to be communicated by the defence counsel.
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