Lawyer, two others remanded in prison over unlawful sale of GRA Ikeja property

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday ordered the remand
of lawyer, Barrister Idowu Adebayo Michael in prison for allegedly
obtaining the sum of N155 million by fraud. Also remanded in prison
with him are his co defendants- Mukaila Fakos and Engineer Rasaq
Sefiu Adesina for the same offence.

The trial Judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi ordered their remand
having pleaded not guilty to the 11 count charges preferred against
them by the police. According to the police, their offences
bothered on conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, fraudulent
disposal of trust property, stealing, obtaining money by false
pretence, forgery and altering of document.

The prosecution said their offence was contrary to section
518(6), 434, 390(9), 516, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17
Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003, and Section 8(a) and
1(3), 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related
Offences Act No 14 of 2006.

The defendants was said to have conspired sometimes in 2009,
unlawfully and without consent of the owner, conducted the sale of
the property of Mr Idowu Musiliu Ololape Balogun at No 2, Kayode
Taiwo street, Magodo, Lagos.

The defendants, Engineer adesina and Fakos sold the landed
property to Barrister Idowu Adebayo Micheal for N35 million and
fraudulently converted the money to their own use and benefit.

Part of the charge read that, ‘Mukaila Fakos, Engr. Rasak Sefiu
Adesina, Barrister Idowu Adebayo Micheal, Babatunde Smith (at
large) and Adigun Smith (at large), sometimes in 2010 in Ikeja
conspired to obtained the sum of N120 million from one Lanre
Obiesan by false pretense when you know you were not authorised to
do so by the true owners, unlawful sale of Mr Idowu Musiliu Ololape
Balogun and Musbal Nig. Ltd’s property to him.”

The prosecution alleged that defendants obtained N120million
from Obiesan by falsely representing to him that they were
authorised to sell land property at No 5c Micheal Ogun Street, GRA,
Ikeja, Lagos.

Also, they were alleged to have forged document titled; “Special
Resolution of Musbal Nig. Ltd” dated December 8, 2010. “Form CAC 7”
and “Consent Letter by Ayoola Fakos” and altered false document to
Guarantee Trust Bank through its member staff to act upon as
genuine.

After their plea, prosecution counsel, Mr Emmanuel Jackson asked
the court for short adjournment for trial and prayed the court to
remand the defendants.

However, defendants counsel, Lawal Pedro (SAN) in his response
told court that 3rd defendant (Barr Micheal) filed application for
bail. He said that they have been on bail granted them by the
Magistrate court. The prosecution asked magistrate court to struck
out the matter and asked the defendant to report to its office.

Pedro said he served the prosecution the bail application which
was confirmed by Mr Jackson but needed to respond. He prayed the
court not to remand his client, noting that they (defendant) came
from Police custody to court. Second defendant counsel, Mr O. Jimoh
adopted the submission of Mr Pedro.

The trial judge thereafter adjourned hearing of bail application
till February 26, 2018 and ordered them to be remanded in prison
custody.

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday ordered the remand
of lawyer, Barrister Idowu Adebayo Michael in prison for allegedly
obtaining the sum of N155 million by fraud. Also remanded in prison
with him are his co defendants- Mukaila Fakos and Engineer Rasaq
Sefiu Adesina for the same offence.

The trial Judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi ordered their remand
having pleaded not guilty to the 11 count charges preferred against
them by the police. According to the police, their offences
bothered on conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, fraudulent
disposal of trust property, stealing, obtaining money by false
pretence, forgery and altering of document.

The prosecution said their offence was contrary to section
518(6), 434, 390(9), 516, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17
Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003, and Section 8(a) and
1(3), 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related
Offences Act No 14 of 2006.

The defendants was said to have conspired sometimes in 2009,
unlawfully and without consent of the owner, conducted the sale of
the property of Mr Idowu Musiliu Ololape Balogun at No 2, Kayode
Taiwo street, Magodo, Lagos.

The defendants, Engineer adesina and Fakos sold the landed
property to Barrister Idowu Adebayo Micheal for N35 million and
fraudulently converted the money to their own use and benefit.

Part of the charge read that, ‘Mukaila Fakos, Engr. Rasak Sefiu
Adesina, Barrister Idowu Adebayo Micheal, Babatunde Smith (at
large) and Adigun Smith (at large), sometimes in 2010 in Ikeja
conspired to obtained the sum of N120 million from one Lanre
Obiesan by false pretense when you know you were not authorised to
do so by the true owners, unlawful sale of Mr Idowu Musiliu Ololape
Balogun and Musbal Nig. Ltd’s property to him.”

The prosecution alleged that defendants obtained N120million
from Obiesan by falsely representing to him that they were
authorised to sell land property at No 5c Micheal Ogun Street, GRA,
Ikeja, Lagos.

Also, they were alleged to have forged document titled; “Special
Resolution of Musbal Nig. Ltd” dated December 8, 2010. “Form CAC 7”
and “Consent Letter by Ayoola Fakos” and altered false document to
Guarantee Trust Bank through its member staff to act upon as
genuine.

After their plea, prosecution counsel, Mr Emmanuel Jackson asked
the court for short adjournment for trial and prayed the court to
remand the defendants.

However, defendants counsel, Lawal Pedro (SAN) in his response
told court that 3rd defendant (Barr Micheal) filed application for
bail. He said that they have been on bail granted them by the
Magistrate court. The prosecution asked magistrate court to struck
out the matter and asked the defendant to report to its office.

Pedro said he served the prosecution the bail application which
was confirmed by Mr Jackson but needed to respond. He prayed the
court not to remand his client, noting that they (defendant) came
from Police custody to court. Second defendant counsel, Mr O. Jimoh
adopted the submission of Mr Pedro.

The trial judge thereafter adjourned hearing of bail application
till February 26, 2018 and ordered them to be remanded in prison
custody.