The Lagos State’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) Tuesday signified its intention before a Federal High Court, Lagos, to take over the prosecution of a developer, Alabi Tesleem Idowu, who allegedly defrauded 297 accommodation seekers in Ketu area of the State, from the Special Police Fraud Unit (SPFU).
The developer was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on August 11, by the men of SPFU on 251 counts charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and fraud.
The offences according to the prosecuting Police Officer, Barrister Chukwu Agwu, is contrary to and punishable under section 1(3) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, today, arraigned a developer, Alabi Tesleem Idowu, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauded 251 prospective accommodation seekers of over N65 million.
Alabi was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo led-court, on 251 counts charge of obtaining under false pretence.
The offence the developer had pleaded not guilty to upon arraignment and the court adjourned till today, for hearing of his bail application.
At the resumed hearing of the developer’s bail application, a Deputy Director in the office of DPP, Adetutu Oshinusi, informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had issued a fiat to the Lagos State Attorney-General to take over the case file of the matter from the police for the prosecution of the developer.
Oshinnusi further told the court that by the virtue of the fiat granted to the AG Lagos State by the AGF, DPP is empowered to prosecute the offender in Federal High Court, she therefore urged the court to grant her application to take over the matter from SPFU.
However, counsel to the developer, Mr. Jilji Jubrin, vehemently opposed the DPP’s application, on the ground that the business of the court today, was for the hearing of his client’s bail application.
Jibril told the court that he had served the bail application of SPFU and also received a counter from the police. He however, told the court that the DPP can take over the case during trial.
Responding also, the prosecuting Police Officer, Mr Agwu, who described the taking over of the case file by the DPP as a good development, told the court that power to prosecute criminal cases rest at the bosom of the AGF.
Following the the police prosecutor’s application, the DPP’s Deputy Director also asked the court for a short date to enable her respond to the developer’s bail application.
Ruling in the parties’ submissions, Justice Nicholas conceded to the DPP’s request and adjourned the matter till October 10, for hearing and determination of the developer’s bail application.
In the charge, the developer was alleged to have used a renovated building which is of a room self-contained and room and parlour self-contained, located at Karimu Street, Alapere, Ketu-Lagos, to defraud the accommodation seekers of the said sum between this year’s January and June.
Among those allegedly scammed by the developer and the sum received from them according to the prosecutor are Mohammed Akeem, N400,000.00; Philip Obinna, N320,000.00; Folorunsho Ridwan N835,000.00; Mrs. Owodunni Dorcas Adrtutu, N240,000.00; Abdulraham Named, N170.000.00; Folakemi Amosun, N220,000.00; Theresa Amazi, N175, 000.00; Samson Emmanuel, N195, 000.00; Salau Wasiu, N180,000.00; Khadyat Sanusi, N140,000.00; Ishola Matthew, N240,000.00.
Others are Michael Bashoru, N150, 000, 00; Akinshola Samuel, N100, 000.00; Olaleye Bisola, N260.000.00; Emmanuel Agbakwuru, N270, 000. 00; Ayedun Oluwatobi, N200,000.00 and many others.