Alleged N3bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s Nephew Till May 30
The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu has fixed May 30 and 31 for continuation of the trial of Ali Bello, a nephew to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over a N3 billion fraud.
Bello was arraigned alongside two others at the Federal High Court on 18 charges of money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.
The two other co-defendants are: Abba Adauda, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat. Another defendant, Rashida Bello, is at large.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, the Prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, called the first witness Mr. Nicholas Oyemomoni of the American International School, Abuja.
Oyemomoni, however, could not complete his testimony because the defence team, led by Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, objected to documents, which the EFCC sought to tender in evidence through him.
Mr. Aliyu prayed the court to allow him raise the objection in his final written address while admitting the documents provisionally.
The prosecuting counsel objected to this on the grounds that the documents could not be provisionally admitted.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 30 and 31, 2023, for continuation of trial.
It would also be recalled that the court admitted Bello and three others to bail on February 20, 2023, in the sum of N500 million
Ex-Banker Bags 7 Years for N10m Fraud in Ilorin
Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin has sentenced a Former Banker, Ajiboye Tunde Aremu to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine for obtaining money by false pretense.
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had on February 17, 2020, arraigned Ajiboye on one count charge of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The charge against him reads: “That you, Ajiboye Tunde Aremu ‘M’ sometime in December 2016 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the High Court with intent to defraud, did obtain from One Medinat Olansile Shagaya the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) with the pretence that the money will be put in fixed deposit which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and the went into full trial. The prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja called 3 witnesses to prove the charge against the defendant.
Delivering judgement on the matter today, Justice Akinpelu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced Ajiboye guilty as charged.
Justice Akinpelu sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine and ordered that he (Ajiboye) restitute the sum of Eight Million Naira to the victim.
The convict began his journey to prison when the Commission received a petition alleging that the convict while working as a Banker with a new generation bank received the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) for placement in a fixed deposit account but diverted the money for his personal use.
In another development, Justice Akinpelu also sentenced one Adeniyi Damilare to six months imprisonment each on two counts bordering on cheating by personation.
The Court however gave him an option of fine of N100, 000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) on each count and ordered that the phone and laptop which he used to perpetrate the crime as well as the sum of $105 which he raised as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government.
