Crime
Court To Pastor: You Must Answer EFCC Charges On $1.66m Dud Cheque
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorJustice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has dismissed the no-case submission filed by Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun.
The Lagos-based pastor was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged $1.6million scam.
Oluokun, whose trial began on May 8, 2019, is being prosecuted alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited.
They face charges bordering on the issuance of dud cheques, stealing and obtaining by false pretence.
EFCC told the court that on or about 26th June 2014 in Lagos, Oluokun issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria cheque dated for $1,000,000 payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited.
When presented for payment, it was dishonoured “on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.”
In another count, Oluokun also tendered another Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria cheque for the payment of $666,666 to GOSL Nigeria Limited.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the commencement of a full trial.
Prosecuting counsel, S. O. Daji, called seven witnesses with several documentary evidence to prove the case before closing.
The defence counsel, E. D. Onyeke, opted to file a no-case submission, arguing that “the prosecution has not made a case against the defendant to warrant him to enter his defence”.
The prosecution opposed, insisting that it had, through its witnesses, shown evidence warranting the need for the defendant to open his case.
READ ALSO: Drama As Inmates Denied Court Appearance Over Attempted Jailbreak
“There is a need for the defendant to come and explain his role as he never used the money for the thing he claimed he wanted to use it for”, Daji said.
Today, Justice Taiwo said after listening to the arguments of both parties and written addresses, the court was convinced that the defence should open its case.
The Judge explained that Oluokun, in his statement, admitted to issuing the cheques and did not deny taking the $1.66million loan.
The matter will resume on June 10, 2022.
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A 50-years old man, Edo Omusi, has been declared wanted by the police in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, for disappearing after being ‘caught’ in a same s*x act in Ogiso community.
A source close to the police in the state, told our correspondent that the suspect, and one of his male friends, whose name was not given, were sighted at an undisclosed location by some youths as they were comitting the act.
Under Nigerian Laws, any person caught in the gay act is liable to 14 years in prison and if found by the community could be killed.
The duo were said to have been deeply engrossed in the act when they were found but before the person who saw them in the , “sinful and abominable act”, went for back up, they had escaped the location.
The incident which occurred on 25/4/23 at Ogiso area of the town almost threw the community into a turmoil as irate youths welding sticks and cudgels rampaged the community in search of the duo to lynch them.
It was also learnt that worried by the trend the youths in the community had to set up a surveillance team to monitor his movements. It was on one of the surveillance trips that he was reportedly caught on the fateful day, with the unidentified male partner.
It was gathered since the community reported the incident to the police, the whereabouts of the suspect, Edo Omusi has since remained unknown by all and sundry.
Speaking on the development, a top Police official confirmed the matter and explained that the Crime Investigation Department of the command is working round the clock to arrest the suspect, having declared him a wanted person.
Crime
Man, 41, Sent To Prison For Groping Woman’s Breast
Published
1 year agoon
April 14, 2023By
EditorA Badagry Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 41-year-old man, Ibrahim Lemo, for groping the breast of a woman.
The court heard that Lemo beat up his victim, Zainab Babalola, when she demanded he stopped the unlawful act
Chief Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye remanded Lemo after he pleaded guilty to a two count bordering on assault.
READ ALSO: Prophet Bags 21 Years Imprisonment For Defiling 10-year-old Step Daughter
Adefioye ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Awhajigoh Correctional Centre, Badagry.
He adjourned the case until April 14 for facts and sentencing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP. Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 6 at 2.30 p.m. at Badagry Roundabout shopping complex, Badagry, Lagos.
Okuoimose said Lemo without lawful excuse pressed the breast of the complainant, Zainab Babalola.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Remands Ex-Imo Deputy Gov In Prison
He said the defendant also hit the complainant on her left eye and caused her harm after she asked him not to touch her again.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
(NAN)
Crime
Hushpuppi’s Associate, Woodberry, Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $8m, Assets
Published
1 year agoon
April 13, 2023By
EditorOlalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government.
Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments, the Peoples Gazette reports.
According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed.
READ ALSO: Calls For Abba Kyari’s Arrest Heighten As Reactions Trail Hushpuppi’s ‘Bribery’ Allegation
“Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence,” stated the document containing Mr Ponle’s signed plea declaration.
Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai.
The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816).
Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains.
READ ALSO:Hushpuppi Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison
Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government.
On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge.
Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.
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