Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in
Lagos has scheduled February 27 for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the
son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four other individuals over alleged
conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences, and involvement in a
N1,356,057,330.43 billion fraud.
Others to be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are: Adejare
Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS
International Company Limited.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud
Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has accused all the defendants of conspiring
between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of
N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank). They allegedly
misrepresented themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming they were
involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and
that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars
for resale.
The defendants are also accused of converting, transferring,
retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know
that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Additionally, they are
alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to the
bank for personal use.
At the hearing on Friday, prosecutor M.Y. Bello informed the
court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of all defendants.
However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to appear in court
and take their pleas.
Counsel for the defendants, Joshua A., explained that his
clients were not in the country. He added that only the companies named in the
charge had been served with the charge sheet. He assured the court that all
defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to take their pleas.
In light of these submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned
the matter to February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.
The five-count charge against the defendants reads: "That
you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited,
M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors
of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with
intent to defraud, conspired to commit felony, specifically obtaining money by
false pretences, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8(i)(a)
and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other
Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006.
"That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro,
Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International
Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May
and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of
N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven
Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) from Diamond Bank (now
Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that
you and your companies were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for
sale in Nigeria. Based on this false representation, the bank released the
money as a loan, which you then diverted to your personal use. This action is
contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related
Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
"That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro,
Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International
Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May
and September 2013, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred,
retained, or took possession or control of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three
Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira,
Forty-Three Kobo) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or
having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This
action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section
18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
"That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro,
Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company
Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019
in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One
Billion Naira) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing
through its staff and officers that you and your company, DDSS International
Company, were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria.
The bank released the money to you as a loan, which you subsequently diverted
to the account of another company, Balmoral International Limited, to disguise
the true origin of the funds. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and
punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
"That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro,
Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International
Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in
May 2019, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or
took possession or control of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) belonging
to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that
such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section
18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022."
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