Traditional ruler arraigned for alleged N2m land 419, wets himself in court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a traditional ruler for obtaining money under false pretense, a crime popularly called 419.

The monarch, who is Baale of Lemode community in Ogun State, Chief Ijaola Hesekiah was brought before Justice O.H. Oshodi of State High court sitting in Ikeja, on a one-count charge.

Chief Hesekiah is accused of swindling one Mrs. Adenike Balogun of her Two Million Naira) by re-selling plots of land to her: plots of land he supposedly sold to one Najimu Abioye.

When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to October 26, 2017 for continuation of trial and remanded the defendant in prison custody.

The defendant who could not absolve the shock of being remanded in prison, wee-wee on himself uncontrollably after the court proceedings.

The charge reads, “that you, Chief Ijaola Hesekiah on or about 11th July, 2014 at Ikeja, within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2, 000, 000.00 (Two Million Naira) as payment from Mrs. Adenike Balogun by falsely representing yourself as a person capable of selling to her 40ft by 120th plot of land at No. 23b Omoniyi Street, Ijaola Street, new Lemode town, Ogun State”.

In view of the plea, the prosecution counsel, Fadekemi Giwa asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel to the defendant, Aloyinlapa Adeyemo prayed the court for an oral application for bail but the prosecution counsel opposed.

Read also: How EFCC traced N603m to a civil servant’s wife in Bayelsa

Justice Oshodi, however, sustained the objection by the prosecution for the oral bail application raised by the defence.

The defence counsel, Aloyinlapa Adeyemo told the court that both the complainant and defendant have reached an agreement before today’s proceedings, to settle the matter, that the defendant is willingly to refund the money.

When Justice Oshodi asked the defence counsel, when both parties had the inclination of settlement, the defence counsel could not answer as he seemed to dose-off while standing before the court.

Justice Oshodi asked the prosecution counsel, Fadekemi Giwa, if she was ready for trial. She said she was ready.

The prosecution counsel, Fadekemi Giwa opened her case by calling her first prosecution witness, one Nwikega Gbenekana to give evidence.

Gbenekana, who is an operative of the EFCC, told the court how the complainant, Adenike Balogun gave the defendant N2,000,000.00 for plot of land.

He also told the court that when investigation commenced, EFCC found out that the defendant had sold the same plot of land to one Najimu Abioye, who frequently threatened the complainant to stop developing the land, after the complainant had spent over N1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in developing the land.

Mr. Nwikega told the court that, after an arrest was made on the defendant, a meeting was setup amongst the defendant, Najimu Abioye, the Olu of Lemode, Adisa Shokunbi and the complainant for a resolution.

According to the prosecution witness, the complainant demanded for her money at the end of the meeting as she was not interested in the plot of land anymore, and the defendant promised to pay her back after three months.

Mr. Nwikega told the court that the defendant disappeared after he was admitted to an administrative bail by the EFCC before he was re-arrested in a bank few months ago.

The defence counsel told the court there was no cross examination on the prosecution witness.

 

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