A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday sentenced a mortgage banker, Sulaiman Olayiwola Gbajabiamila, to 20 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a property seeker of N31 million.
Justice Isiaka Ijelu found Gbajabiamila guilty on a seven-count charge -stealing, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery, using false documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.
He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate.
The convict’s ordeal began after he was introduced by an estate agent, identified as Lukman, to one Lateef Ayo Adeyemo, who sought to purchase a two-bedroom flat at Lagos Homes, Iponri. Investigations revealed that Adeyemo paid N31million to Gbajabiamila, who diverted the funds for personal use.
One of the charges read in court stated: “That you, Sulaimon Olayiwola Gbajabiamila, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, with dishonest intent, stole and converted to your use ₦31million property of Lateef Ayo Adeyemo.”
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Another charge accused him of forging a Sterling Bank Manager’s cheque valued at ₦10million in favour of STB Building Society Limited.
Gbajabiamila, who was arraigned on September 19, 2023, had pleaded not guilty to all charges, leading to a full trial.
The prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L. Tukur, called two witnesses and tendered several documents, which were admitted as evidence against the defendant.
In his plea for leniency, defence counsel T. E. Gbado urged the court to temper justice with mercy, citing his client’s remorse and status as a first-time offender.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu sentenced Gbajabiamila as follows: five years imprisonment for stealing (with an option of ₦1m fine), seven years for obtaining by false pretences, two years each for three counts of forgery (with ₦1m fine on each), two years for using false documents (with ₦200,000 fine), and four years for retention of proceeds of crime (with ₦500,000 fine).