Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
JUSTICE Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court 1 sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has ordered the remand of a fake native doctor, Fatai Olalere Alli (aka Baba Abore, Baba Oshun), and two others, Adigun Fatai Olusegun and Olufemi Kolawole pending the determination of their bail applications. The accused persons were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan zonal office, on Tuesday on criminal charges of conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretences.
The court earlier granted the Commission’s prayer for an order of interim forfeiture of properties traced to Alli as well as freezing bank accounts he allegedly used to receive proceeds of crime. According to count one of the charges, Olusegun and Kolawole conspired with Alli to obtain money under false pretences from one Attiogbe, Daniel Babatunde.
The charges against the trio contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 1 (10 (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Before their arrest, the Commission had received several intelligence reports linking Alli to series of fraud allegations involving large sums of money. It was alleged that he engaged in a money doubling scam through which he swindled his victims with the promise of using his ‘spiritual powers’ to multiply money for them.
He was arrested on July 9, 2019. His confessions later led to the arrest of his ‘collaborators’.
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The Commission filed an application seeking an interim forfeiture of the properties and accounts of the suspects. The application is pursuant to Sections 28, 29, and 34(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, Sections 333 and 337 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Section 44 (1)2)(k) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and under the Interim Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.
Justice Ajoku granted the application of the EFCC and ordered that the properties of the suspects be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She also ordered the freezing of their bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation, prosecution and final determination of the cases against them.
The properties include five buildings, three cars and hectares of farmland.
The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Due to the not-guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Oluwatinuwe Daramola, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the accused persons in prison custody. Counsels to the suspects prayed the court for a short date to hear the applications of their clients.
Bala Yakubu represented Alli, Babatunde Ajibola stood in for Olusegun, while Oluwole Adeosun advocated for Kolawole. The presiding judge, however, refused their prayers stating that their applications were not yet before the court.
She said the court registrar would communicate the date for bail argument to the parties once the applications are properly brought before the court.
Justice Ajoku then ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody as she adjourned the matter to November 22, 2019 for trial.
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