NAN-H-19
Absence
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) The arraignment of the Managing Director of a real estate company, Mr Funmi Ademosun, who is facing a N108 million fraud, was on Tuesday stalled at an Ikeja High Court following the defence counsel’s absence.
Ademosun and his company, H.T. Real Estate Ltd, were to be arraigned on a 19-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The accused is alleged to have defrauded another MD, Mr Matthew Aiyeola of Golden Treasure Investment Company of N108 million in a failed foreign exchange transaction.
When the case was announced for arraignment, counsel to the EFCC, Mr S.O. Daji, announced appearance for prosecution, while no lawyer appeared for the defence.
Noticing the absence of the defence counsel, Justice Josephine Oyefeso questioned Ademosun, who was already in the dock about the whereabouts of his lawyer.
“My Lord, my lawyer called me on Saturday to tell me that he was battling with an ailment and would not be able to come to court today,” he told the judge.
Oyefeso, however, admonished Ademosun, to ensure that he had legal representation at the next date of adjournment.
According to the anti-graft agency, Ademosun who is also a Director of Keystone Bank Plc, had approached Aiyeola to assist him in converting some money into American currency at a fair rate based on his position as a director in the bank.
Aiyeola allegedly gave Ademosun N108 million with the agreement that the sum will be converted to $921,560 using a fair bank rate.
Ademosun allegedly converted the money to personal use and all efforts to retrieve the funds by Aiyeola failed. He then petitioned the EFCC on April 17, 2013 over the alleged fraud.
March 21 has been fixed for arraignment. (NAN)
MAE/DA
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Edited by Dele Akinsola