Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 24, 2024, for the arraignment of a Lagos monarch, the Olu of Agboyi Kingdom, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega, and six others over allegations of N29.3 million fraud.
The monarch is to be arraigned alongside Abdulfatai Bankole; Abubakar Seriki, Razak Seriki; Mrs Jemilatu Busari; Amoda Ibrahim and Adams Adebiyi by the Police on a four-count charge marked FHC/L/80c/2024, filed against them by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
The arraignment was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but it was, however, stalled due to the failure of the defendants to appear in court.
The defence lawyer informed the court that the first defendant, Abdulfatai Bankole, who is the only one that had been served with the charge, told him that the second defendant, Monsuru Abimbola Oladega, is currently abroad for medical treatment, and the rest of the defendants were not residing within the community.
The court has granted an adjournment, and the arraignment has been rescheduled for June 24.
In the charges, the police alleged that the defendants between 2014 and 2022 conspired to fraudulently obtain the sum of N29.3 million, a 1998 model Infinity QS4 Jeep, one 1998 model Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, and one Toyota Camry car, from one Joseph Kolawole Fagbamila, Olaniyi Kolawole Owoyomi, and the Amicable Friends Estate.
Counts one and four of the charges against all the defendants read that they committed a felony by obtaining the stated sums and vehicles, which formed proceeds of an unlawful act of obtaining by false pretence from the victims.
The police were unable to reach the defendants for the service of the charge, and the judge had to order that the charge be served on their lawyer, Abayomi Fagbayi.
The judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, granted the Motion Ex-parte and ordered that the charge be served to the defendants through their legal representative.