A 40-year-old man, Keazor Ayoade John, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly defraud a former Nigerian World boxing champion, Henry Akinwande of the sum of N58 million.
The defendant who is a distance cousin to the former world champion, was said to have committed the offence at Animashaun area of Alakuko, Lagos, in 2014.
In defrauding the boxer, police from the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, stated in the defendant converted the sum of N40 million, being the proceeds from the sale of a building belonging to the boxer, to his personal use.
The defendant was alleged to have converted the sum of N10 million, being the proceeds from the sale of fittings and fixtures from Akinwande’s property to his personal use.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable under section 278(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
Arraigning the defendant in court on Friday, Barrister Animashaun, told the court that Akinwande who is a former European, Commonwealth and
WBO boxing champion, reported the case of fraudulent conversion of funds against the defendant with General Investigation Section of the FCIID.
Animashaun also told the court that upon receiving the report, the defendant was invited for interrogation and admitted committing the offences, hence he was charge to court after being found culpable.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge, when it was read to him.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, asked the court for a trial date, while also asked the court to remand the defendant pending the conclusion of the matter.
However, lawyer to the defendant, Mr. Gani Oyerevuegbe, urged the court to discountenance the prosecutor’s remand request against his client.
He told the court that the charges against his client are bailable ones and that his client remain innocent of the charge unless contrarily proven by the court.
After hearing the submissions of the both parties, Magistrate B. I. Bakara, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2.5 million with two responsible sureties.
Magistrate Bakare also ordered that the sureties must presented to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state government, with standard means of livelihood and must be gainful employed.
The magistrate ordered that all documents must be verified by the court’s registrar. He also ordered the the accused be remanded in prison custody till the perfection of bail terms.
Count one of the charge against the defendant reads; That you Keazor Ayoade John ‘m’. sometime in year 2014 m Animashaun Street, Alakuko, Lagos, In the Lagos Magisterial district, fraudulently converted the sum of forty Eight Million Naira, (N48, 000.000) to your own use being proceeds from sale of building belonging to one Henry Akinwande ‘m’ and thereby committed and offence contrary to section 2870) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.
And Count 2 reads: “That you Keazor Ayoade John ‘m’. sometimes in year 2014, at Animashaun Street, Alakuko, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, fraudulently converted the sum of Ten Million Naira, (N10, 000.000) to your own use being proceeds of sale of fittings and Fixtures property of one Henry Akinwande ‘m‘ and thereby committed and offence contrary to section 287(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015”.