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Tag: Justice Mojisola Dada

  • EFCC arraigns captain, other over alleged $5m fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Victor Uadiale and Captain Everest Nnaji before an Ikeja Special Offences Court over alleged $5million fraud.

    Uadiale and Captain Nnaji are facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of over $5million before Justice Mojisola Dada.

    The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

    In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to commence trial.

    However, counsels to the first and second defendants Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN) and Akinpelu Adekunle respectively objected to the submission by the prosecution counsel.

    The defence counsels argued they were not prepared for trial and asked the court for a short date.

    Justice Dada, however, overruled the objections of the defence team and ordered the prosecution to open its case.

    Led in evidence by Omewa, the first prosecution witness, Tawfeeq Al-Omar, the victim of the fraud, narrated to the court how he was lured into Nigeria by one Mohammed Lawal Abdullahi, who claimed he was visiting his relative, a diplomat in the Kuwaiti Embassy.

    Al-Omar said that he had several meetings with Lawal who told him that he was a business partner with Uadiale and Nnaji and that they could supply Urea Fertilizer to him.

    Based on this representation, he came down to Nigeria and met with the defendants who informed him that they had a deal with NAFCON to lift Urea fertilizer.

    He thereafter, made payments to them on several occasions.

    The victim also told the court that while the transactions were going on, the suspects told him that they could also supply Bonny Light Crude Oil and he made more payments. He said however, did not get the product nor  a refund of his money.

    Justice Dada has adjourned the matter to December 20, 2018 for the argument of bail application.

    The court also fixed January 15 and 16, 2019 for continuation of trial.

     

     

  • Court orders Ajudua’s transfer to Kirikiri prison

    Lagos socialite, Fred Ajudua, wept profusely on Thursday after the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja ordered his transfer from Ikoyi Maximum Prisons to Kirikiri Prisons.

    Justice Mojisola Dada, who issued the order, also declined Ajudua’s request for bail on medical grounds.

    Ajudua, upon hearing that he should be moved from Ikoyi to kirikiri Prisons, bowed down his head in the dock and wept.

    Ruling on the accused bail application, Justice Dada ordered that Ajudua who has been in Ikoyi Prison since the commencement of his trial last year, be transferred to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

    The judge noted that the socialite’s criminal cases are the oldest in the Lagos State judiciary and had suffered several setbacks due to disappearances and health challenges of the defendant.

     

     

  • Fake SAN gets one year imprisonment

    An Ikeja special offences court Tuesday sentenced a 27-year-old man, Omotayo Raphael to one year imprisonment for impersonating a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    Justice Mojisola Dada found Omotayo guilty of a lone count charge of impersonation after he changed his plea to ‘guilty’.

    The defendant who was initially arraigned before the court on February 5, 2018 for impersonation by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had pleaded not guilty.

    Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Dada noted that an operative of the EFCC, who led the team to arrest the defendant in his house in Egbeda, August 27, told the court that laptops, phones and modems were recovered from the convict.

    “However, the defendant has changed his plea and I found him guilty and he is hereby convicted accordingly.

    “The defendant is thereby sentenced to one year imprisonment for impersonating a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” Justice Dada said.

    She said that the sentence will run from the date of his arrest.

    Read Also:Court refuses to order Abaribe’s release

    Earlier, before the judge pronounced judgment in the matter, the prosecuting counsel, Mr A.A. Adebayo informed the court that the Commission has amended the charge against the defendant after he entered into a ‘plea bargain’ agreement.

    “My Lord, the defendant has decided to enter into a pleasant bargain agreement and we are in court today with an amended charge.

    “We urge the court to allow him take his plea,” he said.

    When the amended charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty to the lone count of Impersonation.

    In his allocutus, counsel to the defendant, Adeniyi Quadri urged the court to be lenient with the defendant.

    Quadri said Omotayo has shown remorse, has learnt his lessons and resolved to be of good behavior.

    “I have had the opportunity to interact with the defendant my Lord, and I can tell the honorable court that he is a changed person.

    “While he was in the prison custody, his wife gave birth to a baby boy and he has not had the opportunity to see his child since he was born.

    “I urge your lordship to temper justice with mercy.

    The convict, Omotayo, was first arraigned by the EFCC for parading himself as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

    EFCC also said that Omotayo was found to be in possession of some fraudulent documents where he also claimed to be Michael Blacks.

    The commisson also said that documents obtained from Omotayo’s computer revealed that he pretended to be a SAN in order to defraud an American, one Juliet of an undisclosed amount of money.

    Suspecting foul play, Ms Juliet, had petitioned the EFCC who swung into action and arrested Raphael.

    The anti-graft commission said the offences contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

     

  • Breaking: Court declares Innoson motors chairman wanted

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the special offences court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday declared the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma wanted over his failure to make an appearance in court for his arraignment for the fifth time.

    Chukwuma, alias Innoson is standing trial in a matter between his company and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Dada had declared the automobile boss wanted, granting the request of Mr Anselem Ozioko, the lead prosecuting counsel of the EFCC.

    Innoson had previously failed to make an appearance in court for his arraignment on Jan. 17, Feb. 9, March 14 and April 25.

    His failure to appear before the court for five consecutive times informed the issuance of bench warrant.

    During the proceedings of March 14, it was revealed that Innoson had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over Justice Mojisola Dada, the judge trying the case.

    Ozioko in his submission seeking the declaration of Innoson wanted said: “This appears to be the fifth time this matter is coming up before your Lordship for arraignment.

    “The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the second defendant (Innoson) is still insisting on taking his application without ensuring the defendant is physically present in court.

    “The question is where is the second defendant? Is he too big for the court? Is he too big for the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he too big because he has money? Where is he?

    “What my learned friends, the defence counsel are doing is contemptuous.

    “We shall be applying for an order to declare the second defendant wanted.”

    Acceding to Ozioko’s request, Justice Dada said, “The second defendant is hereby declared wanted and the case adjourned until June 22 for possible arraignment.”

    Earlier, during the proceedings, Ozioko had informed the court that the anti-graft agency will also be taking some steps to ensure Innoson’s attendance in court on the next adjourned date.

    Counsel to Innoson, Mr George Uwechue (SAN) had requested that the court hear his application despite Justice Dada’s declaration that no application will be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    “At the last hearing, the court maintained its position that it will not take its pending application unless the first defendant is arraigned.

    Read Also:Innoson Motors boss Chukwuma shuns court third time

    “We were about to cite our position regarding the court’s declaration but we were interrupted by the prosecuting counsel and that interruption led to today’s proceedings.

    “Whatever we did that day, we sincerely apologize; we urge this court to allow us to continue our presentation.’’

    Prof. J. N Mbadugha, counsel to Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd, in his submission told the court that he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    Mbadugha informed the court that he had made an appeal at the Court of Appeal over the case.

    Justice Dada however maintained her position that the applications of the defence will not be heard until Innoson is physically present in court.

    Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd., are to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretences, obtaining property by false pretences, stealing and forgery.

    According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

    The EFCC alleged that the defendants with intent to defraud; conspired to obtain by false pretences containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) from Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, Apapa, Lagos.

    They are alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank to clear the goods.

    The prosecution claimed that the defendants in order to facilitate the fraud forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K Lines by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

    The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

    The offences contravened Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

    NAN.

     

  • Court remands company MDs over ‘N120m property scam’

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday remanded the Managing Director (MD) of Forthright Properties Ltd, Isaac Akintoye and two other MDs following their arraignment for an alleged N120 million property scam.

    Justice Mojisola Dada made the order after Akintoye and his co-defendants, Samuel Okeke and Ifeanyi Ndigwe, pleaded “not guilty” to a 16- count charge of alleged stealing and fraud.

    They will remain in custody till May 22, when their bail applications will be heard.

    The judge also fixed June 6, for commencement of trial.

    The defendants were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside four companies.

    According to EFCC counsel Muhammed Bashir, the alleged offences were committed in Lagos “sometime in 2013.”

    Okeke and his two firms, Samadores Ltd and Aqua Rock Real Estate and Investment Ltd were indicted in counts 1 to 12.

    Read Also: Man docked for N6.75m petrol supply scam

    Akintoye and Forthright Properties Ltd were mentioned in count 12, while Ndigwe and his company, Iccon Communications Ltd appeared in count 13 to 16.

    Count 12 of the charge reads: “Samuel Okeke, Isaac Akintoye, Samadores Ltd, Aqua Rock Real Estate and Investment Ltd and Forthright Properties Ltd sometime in the year 2013, conspired to dishonestly convert an aggregate sum of N650, 400,000 being purported payment for sale of 38 plots of land at Gan-un Riverside Park Residential Scheme at the rate of N1, 800, 000 per plot with intent to permanently deprive Obinna Obienu and IT World Nigeria Limited of their special interest in the property.”

    The court heard that the alleged offences were contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal laws of Lagos State and Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

  • Fraud: Innoson Motors MD asks judge to withdraw from trial

    The fraud trial of Chairman of Innoson Motors Limited, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, was stalled at the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday.

    Chukwuma failed to appear in court for his arraignment for alleged fraud.

    That was the third time the Innoson Motor chief had failed to appear in court despite a subsisting bench warrant for his arrest.

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, had on February 9 ordered Chukwuma to enter his defence for fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    During Wednesday’s proceedings, it was revealed that Innoson Motors chief had filed a petition at the National Judicial Commission (NJC) against the judge.

    Our correspondent gathered that the petitioner asked the Justice Dada to withdraw from the case.

     

  • Court issues bench warrant for arrest of Innoson Group boss

    Court issues bench warrant for arrest of Innoson Group boss

    Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja high court yesterday issued a bench warrant for the arrest  of the Chairman of Innoson Group, Innocent Chukwuma, for failing to appear before the court to face his trial.

    Justice Dada ordered that Mr Chukwuma should be arrested and kept in custody until March 14, 2018 for arraignment.

    Justice  Dada issued the bench warrant following the failure of the defendant to appear in court for the second time for arraignment on criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him.

    “A bench warrant is hereby served on Innocent Chukwuma. He will remain in custody till the next adjourned date.

    “The case is adjourned till March 14 for possible arraignment,” Justice Dada said.

    Earlier, during the proceedings, a mild drama ensued in the courtroom, with Justice Dada threatening to commit to prison, Prof. J. N Mbadugha, the defence counsel for Innoson and Innoson Motors Limited, for contempt of court.

    Charles Chukwuma, a third defendant, who was not present in court, had no legal representation.

    Rather than justifying why his client was not in court, Mbadugha in anger told the court that there are pending applications before her lordship and the Court of Appeal which had to be entertained before there could be further proceedings on matter before the court.

    But the judge insisted that he could only address her after his clients are in the dock.

    In anger the defence counsel demanded that the judge disqualify herself from the trial.

    He further told the judge that she was overriding the Supreme Court decision.

    The judge  attempted to calm him down,  tactfully reminding  him to respect and address the court, but the defence counsel refused to be persuaded.

    Mbadugha in his address retorted: “This proceeding is a clear abuse of court processes. The EFCC is a reckless arbiter.

    “My Lord has refused to be bound by the rule of law and doesn’t want to be bound by the doctrine of Stare Decisis; my Lord wants to override the decision of the Supreme Court.”

    Justice Dada, in response, said: “Your whole comportment, conduct, countenance smack of disrespect to the court and rule of law. I will report you to the Nigerian Bar Association.

    “You are insulting the court. This is clear contempt in the face of the court. You will go to prison from here, if you think the court is defenceless and powerless, you’d be surprised.”

    In his response, Mbadugha threw caution to the wind and said he was ready to be charged for contempt, and even make all sacrifices for his client.

    At this stage, the court asked him, “so you are ready to go to prison for your client? Do you realize you have committed contempt in the face of the court and you can be sent  to prison?”

    Realizing the import of his outbursts against the court, Mbadugha quickly  tendered an apology to the court, saying: “I am sorry, My Lord, I hope the court gives me a second opportunity.

    “I want to urge the court to temper justice with mercy. To err is human, but to forgive is divine.”

    The defence counsel apologized to the court, saying he had withdrawn his earlier statements and was forgiven.

    EFCC counsel, Mr. A.B.C Ozioko, while  addressing the court,  asked that a bench warrant be served on the defendants for non-appearance at the court.

    He  faulted arguments of the defence that they appeared before the Senate Committee on corruption on same issue, but failed to come to court to answer charges.

    “We were here on the 17th of January, but the defence was represented by a lawyer and you made an order to serve the lawyer. We have another person who is here on behalf of the first and second defendants. They were physically present at the National Assembly on Wednesday, but the wise senators decided this is a matter already before the court. They have respect for the legislative assembly but none for the court. “

    He explained further that the defendants have criminal charges against them and they have to come to court.

    He expressed surprise that his learned friend was in court full of venom and disrespect for the court.

    He said: “The first and second defendants are not here because he has advised them not to be here. He has told those who are not lawyers not to be here. But whatever the case, having been duly served, they have submitted to the court, their lawyer is here, the other lawyer was here to represent them.

    When Justice Dada, however, inquired about the third defendant from  Mr. Ozioko, he replied “we got across to the third defendant. We are prepared to amend the charge. However, we shall be applying for a bench warrant on all the defendants particularly the second defendant.

    The judge granted the request of the prosecution and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of  Mr. Chukwuma.

    The court ordered that he should be arrested and kept in custody until  the next adjourned date, March 14, 2018.