The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal office on Thursday August 9, 2018, arraigned the duo of Ogunlabi Olanrewaju (a.k.a. Lanre Afeez Ajao) and Femi Falowo Busuyi before Justice M. Abimbola, Chief Judge of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, on a two-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.
The duo were arraigned following a petition to the Commission alleging that sometimes in August, 2017, the first defendant, Olarewaju, approached her concerning a land for sale and introduced the second defendant, Femi Falowo to her as the owner of a plot of land located at Otun Olode, Akobo in lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The petitioner further alleged that both parties met and agreed for the sum of N1,400,000.00 (One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only) as the price of the said land. According to the victim, it was after payment of the said sum that she realized that the transaction was a scam and all efforts made to get her money back, failed.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendants in prison custody. However, the defense counsel, Adewole Olajire prayed the court to allow him move an oral application for bail. He thereafter applied that the defendants be admitted to bail “on most liberal terms.”
Justice Abimbola however, granted the defense prayer to move the application orally and thereafter admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of two million naira each and two sureties in like sum. The sureties shall be landed property owners within Ibadan and they shall be verified by the EFCC.
The case was adjourned to September 27, 2018, for trial and the defendants shall be remanded in prison custody, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
