The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, arraigned an 82-year-old chief, Olagoke Amoo-Onidundu over alleged land fraud.
Amoo-Onidundu, who is the Baale of Onidundu in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, was docked on a four count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The complainant alleged that he bought four acres of land from the octogenarian for N4, 400,000, but he was later denied access to the land by some people who claimed to be the actual owners of the property.
One of the counts reads, ”That Chief Olagoke Samson Amoo-Onidundu on or about the 19th August, 2020, in Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2,000,000 only from one Oluwagbemi Isaac Ashaolu by falsely telling him that the sum was part payment for the purchase of four acres of land (that) you secured for him, which you are in a position to deliver to him; which representation, you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a)of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
Howevwr, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, asked for a date for the commencement of trial. He also prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan adjourned the case till August 9 and remanded the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abolongo.
In a related development, the Head, Media and Publicity to EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said that Yerima convicted and sentenced one Kunle Aremu to six months community service after finding him guilty of a criminal charge filed against him by the EFCC.
Aremu was convicted on a six-count amended charge of obtaining money under false pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code, 38 Cap. Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
However, he pleaded guilty to the charge. Consequently, prosecution counsel, Dr. Ubi, prayed the court to convict him according to the terms of a plea bargain agreement earlier made with the Commission.
After convicting the accused, the judge ordered him to restitute his victims, Jason Arthur, Paul Jackson and John Geditz, the total sum of $360 USD. The court also ordered Aremu to forfeit one black and purple coloured Techno Spark 4 mobile phone and one silver coloured HP laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria
