Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has adjourned till December 9 and 10, 2021 the trial of one Amusa Abiodun Azeez, who is standing trial for an alleged N88.1million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Azeez on four counts bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct to the tune of N88,187,773.64 (Eighty-eight Million One Hundred and Eighty-seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-three Naira Sixty-four Kobo).
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on November 1, 2021.
Defence counsel, O. Ajanaku, had moved the bail application for his client, on November 4, 2021, arguing that the defendant did not constitute a flight risk and would not in any interfere with the case.
“He has credible sureties to stand for him.
“He also has a heavily pregnant wife,” he had said.
Prosecuting counsel, S.O. Daji, had, however, vehemently opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendant was in fact an ex-convict who had gone back to the same crime for which he was convicted.
Citing the October 31, 2019 judgement of Justice S.O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, which convicted him of offences bordering on internet fraud, Daji stressed that the defendant had gone back to engage in cybercrime.
Justice Solebo had sentenced him to one year in prison and ordered him to sign an undertaking with the EFCC not to engage in internet fraud again.
“He was to enter into a bond with the EFCC to be of good behaviour and not to return to committing financial and economic crimes again.
“But even before the bond was entered into, he was again arrested for another set of internet fraud,” he had told the court.
He had also urged the Court to order accelerated hearing of the case, instead of granting the defendant bail.
However, Ajanaku, in his response, had argued that each case was different.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Taiwo had noted that the defendant was presumed innocent until it was proved otherwise, and that the offence was a bailable one.
Ruling on the bail application, the Judge had granted him bail in the sum of N40million, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a land owner, and the other a close relative of the defendant.
The Court had, thereafter, ordered him to be remanded at the Ikoyi custodial centre, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, and adjourned till December 9 and 10, 2021 for commencement of trial.