Court Convicts Woman Over N47m Fraud In Lagos

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, March 27, 2023, convicted one Adanu Blessing Ajumi, who was prosecuted for N47m fraud.

Adanu, who is accused of trading under the name and style of Emerald Multipurpose Cooperative Society to defraud her victims in a purported agribusiness scheme, was charged with two counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and stealing, contrary to Section 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

She pleaded "not guilty" to the charges when she was arraigned on December 19, 2019, thereby leading to her trial that commenced on September 14, 2020.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, S.O. Daji, called three witnesses through whom several documentary evidence were tendered and admitted by the court against her.

The defence counsel, Peter Ola, called four witnesses, including the defendant who testified as the fourth witness.

However, the defendant stopped appearing in court upon the closure of her defence on June 30, 2022.

In view of this, Daji, at the proceedings of November 3, 2022, applied to the court to revoke the bail of the defendant and allow the trial to continue in absentia.

During the November 3, 2022 sitting, there was no objection from her counsel, O. Ajanaku, in court.

Justice Dada, therefore, revoked the bail earlier granted the defendant and further issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

The Judge also ordered that the EFCC declare her wanted.

On December 2, 2022, when the final addresses were to be adopted by both parties, Adanu was, again, absent, as Daji informed the court that frantic efforts were still being made to secure her arrest.

Daji, citing Section 14 (4) of the Criminal Law of Lagos Society, had urged the court to continue with the adoption of the final written addresses. 

Following the adoption of the final written addresses by both parties, Justice Dada adjourned for judgment. 

Delivering judgment today, Justice Dada dismissed the argument of the defence that the charges emanated from "contractual disputes that are purely civil in nature".

The trial judge also held that, based on the evidence before the court, including the statements made by the defendant during interrogation, the prosecution effectively proved all the essential ingredients of obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

The trial judge further noted that, as argued by the prosecution, most economic and financial crimes arise from transactions that have a semblance of contractual transactions, but along the line, "a lot of factors come in to derail the smooth sail, when the heart of man begins to dialogue with the devil to outsmart another person and he succumbs to it."

The court further noted that her oral testimony in court that the agribusiness was affected by flooding and Fulani herdsmen attacks were "an after-thought."

The Judge held that "She wanted to be living big at the expense of other people without counting the cost.

"Although the defendant seems to have absconded, having jumped the bail graciously granted her by this court, the truth is that she cannot run away from justice.

"From the foregoing, therefore, the evidence before the court clearly shows that the case against the defendant has been proved beyond every reasonable doubt on the two counts of obtaining the sum of N47, 575, 000.”

Consequently, Justice Dada declared the defendant guilty as charged on the two counts. 

Her sentencing was, however, deferred in accordance with the Section 321 and 352 (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, in conjunction with Section 278 (1) of the ACJL 2015, "until when she is apprehended and brought before this court".

Tinubu Calls For Prayers, Thanksgiving To Mark 71st Birthday

To mark his 71st birthday, President-elect Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that special prayers and thanksgiving service be held on Wednesday March 29, 2023, instead of the yearly birthday colloquium. 

The special prayers will be held in Lagos and in other parts of the country. 

A statement from his office on Monday indicated that for the main event in Lagos special prayers will be offered at the Central Mosque in each of the five divisions in the state including the Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

During the prayer sessions, special prayers will be offered for the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

Also to receive prayers among others are President Muhammadu Buhari and First Lady Aisha Buhari, President-elect Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima and Hajia Nana Shettima, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, other state governors as well as members of National and State Houses of Assembly. 

According to an announcement by the organisers of the prayer sessions issued by Imam Akeem Kosoko, the session at Alausa Central Mosque will begin at 10am on Wednesday and will include delivery of sermons and reading from the Holy Quran. 

This year will be the third in recent times the birthday colloquium will not hold in deference to developments in the country. 

In 2020, the 12th edition of the colloquium marking Asíwájú's 68th birthday was put off to empathize with those who lost their lives or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

And last year, the birthday symposium was also called off by Asíwájú Tinubu right at the venue of the event when news emerged of the terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which several persons died and many others abducted.

The Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos venue was already filled to capacity with dignitaries to celebrate the birthday when Asíwájú took to the podium to announce the cancellation of the event.

The former Governor of Lagos had said it would not be proper for him as a statesman to be celebrating when such a tragedy had befallen the nation.

“For me to be here celebrating, dancing and enjoying myself, does not speak of me as a senior citizen of this country. I asked that the cleric should rather engage in prayers. This event should not be holding," Tinubu had said on the occasion. 

This year, the president-elect said the date, which falls within the holy month of Ramadan, should be dedicated to prayers and seeking God's guidance for him and the country as he prepares to take the reins of leadership. 

Why Gov. Seyi Makinde & I Are Very Close - Ex-Oyo First Lady, Yinka Ladoja Speaks On Her Political Journey

Former first lady of Oyo State, Alhaja Mutiat Yinka Ladoja has revealed the reasons behind her cordial relationship with the governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The Maye Iyalode of Ibadanland and wife of the former governor Rashidi Ladoja, Yinka Ladoja made these revelations while featuring on a radio programme in Ibadan.

Few days to the just concluded gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in the state, the former first lady was on Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan. Where she was able to address some partinent issues, especially the governor's purported 'hostile' body language towards the Islamic faith.

She wondered where the wild notion of governor Makinde's being anti Islam emanated from. Saying that she has known Makinde to be organizing Ramadan Lectures and sending people to Hajj for the past ten years. Even long before he became governor of Oyo State.

"How can a man who has been consistently organizing Ramadan Lectures at NTA in the last ten years be anti Islam. He wasn't even governor when he built Omituntun Mosque," she said.

Speaking further, Mrs. Ladoja also pointed out the fact that governor Seyi Makinde even has a Muslim background.

"He has a Muslim background. His grandfather from Aigbofa Compound of Oja'ba was a Muslim. It was his own father, late Pa Olatunbosun Makinde who converted to Christianity. In fact, his Muslim name is Saheed."

On why Makinde commands a lot of love and respect among the people of Oyo State. 

"Governor Makinde, naturally, is so passionate, humble and kind. He is a philanthropist. And he has said it right from the onset that he wanted to serve. He made me understand that there is nothing in government that he can't afford. But he wants people to enjoy dividends of democracy. It's my joy that he has done all he promised to do. He will still do more in the Omituntun 2.0. I'm proud of him. He is a God sent to liberate the people of Oyo State."

According to Chief Yinka Ladoja, she is in the best position to know all these sterling qualities of governor Seyi Makinde since they have been close for about twenty one years now.

She said: " Seyi Makinde is the market I am selling. He's marketable because he is loved by the people of Oyo State. Our paths crossed in 2002 during electioneering period of that year. He was like an onlooker then with a group of about twelve men. The group was called Fortune Group. They were monitoring the happening within the political circle.

After the election, he went back to America where he was based then. It was in 2009 that he came back and started talking about going into politics. In 2011, I was one of those who followed him to his village, Ajia to launch his power project.

That was what actually attracted him to me. I was amazed because not many of his mates then would have ever thought of embarking on such project. I was also there when his father died in 2012. After the burial, when he wanted to go back to America he came to pay me a thank you visit. It was in the course of his visit that he overheard me taking to the doctor on the phone about a girl we wanted to provide an artificial legs for.

I was persuading the doctor to reduce the cost and all that. I never knew he was paying attention. But to my utmost shock, I saw Makinde's message a week after. He cleared the bill. The girl of that time is now a grown lady. She has her HND. In fact, she is currently observing a year mandatory service.

That and many others are the things that convinced me that we have many things in common. Since then it has been mother and son relationship for us.

When he wanted to contest in 2014, I told him I was not sure it was the right time but since it is your wish. I also told him that I know he would be governor one day. But that the particular time was what I didn't know. I have always know him to be very smart and intelligent."

When asked where she got her political skills from, Chief Yinka Ladoja has this to say. "I was born into politics. My mother was a great politician in Ibadan. She is from the popular Akintola Compound of Oke-Mapo. She was in the Action Group, alongside the likes of the first female senator of the Western Region, Mrs. Wuraola Esan and the late former Iyalode of Ibadanland, Alhaja Humuani Alaga.

I was young then but I used to follow my mother to their meetings at Mrs. Esan's place. They had meetings in our house as well. The likes of late former governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina knew me from my childhood.

In fact, my mother was one of the founders of Isabarudeen Girls School in 1958. Mrs Adio was the first Principal. So, I understand the political terrain of Oyo State like the palm of my hand. As a matter of fact I would have contested during the time of late Chief Bola Ige but I was pregnant then. After I gave birth, I didn't leave politics. I bought my first car during the era of Chief Bola Ige. He was my leader and mentor in politics.

I have known him right from my childhood. They were together with the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and co. Bola Ige's home at Oke-Ado and Awolowo's home at Oke-Bola were like my second homes. I was eleven years old when I first entered Government House. The military governor then was General Adeyinka Adebayo. That was the first time I ate at the Government House in company of my mother." 

Credit: citypeople