EFCC re-arraigns businesswoman for alleged N57.6m fraud in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 22, re-arraigned one Oluremi Phillips for an alleged N57, 690,000 fraud before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Philips was previously standing trial before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, following her arraignment on January 27, 2022.

However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Solebo in November 2022, a development that resulted in the re-assigning of the case file to Justice Ijelu.

Philips was re-arraigned alongside her company, Omritas Energy Limited, on a five-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N57, 690,000.

The defendant, again, pleaded "not guilty" to all the counts preferred against her.

In view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, asked the Court for a trial date and further prayed the Judge to order the remand of the defendant, who also represents the second defendant, at a Correctional Centre, pending the trial date. 

The defence counsel, Akin Olatunji, however, informed the court that his client had been granted bail on March 18, 2022 while standing trial before Justice Solebo.

"We were able, after two months that the defendant was at the Correctional Centre, to perfect the bail.

“We, therefore, humbly urge your lordship to allow the defendant to continue with the previous bail, as she does not constitute a flight-risk," he said.

The prosecution counsel, however, raised objections, noting that "Your lordship now sits on the matter. The defendant has not brought any bail application before the court, and the court is a court of records."

After listening to the arguments of both parties, and going through the records of the proceedings of the previous court, including the bail ruling of retired Justice Solebo, the trial judge granted the defendant bail.

The Judge held that "I am satisfied that the conditions are adequate.

"The bail conditions are hereby adopted by this court.

“The bail conditions, having been perfected by the defendant… the first defendant shall continue to enjoy same before this court," he said.

The case was adjourned till June 28 and 29, 2023 and July 4, 2023 for trial. 

Veteran Yoruba actor, Adewale Adeyemo dies

Prince Adewale Adeyemo, a renowned Yoruba actor, passed away on Monday morning after a brief illness.

A fellow actor, Kunle Afod, revealed the information on his Instagram page.

Afod posted a photo of the deceased and said, "Hmmmm God you know best RIP Prince Adewale Adeyemo.

After a brief illness, he passed away in the early morning hours of today. All of his loved ones, friends, and coworkers will find solace in God.

This occurs shortly after a night of remembrance for the late Murphy Afolabi, who passed away on May 14, 2023, was hosted by the Yoruba film industry.

'He was paid over N300,000', Tunde Kelani replies Baba Wande over fraud allegation on 'Ti Oluwa Nile'

Tunde Kelani, a popular Nigerian firmmaker, has responded to his colleague, Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) over a fraud allegation raised against his personality.

Baba Wande, in a recent interview, had accused Kelani of defrauding him over the returns from legendary Yoruba movie, ‘Ti Oluwa nile’ which was a big hit back in the day.

Responding to the allegation however, Kelani, the director of Saworoide and Agogo Ewo, said he never defrauded Baba Wande and that the film didn’t make as much money as some have reported.

He said; “He was not accusing me; I think he was stating his own case and complaining about a project that happened over 20 years ago.

"I think he is not saying that I didn’t pay him; he is probably saying that the money was not enough. When I heard that, I asked the office to start dusting some papers and I think they found some vouchers, at least we are still looking for 2003 record.

“But, the vouchers they found already showed that he was paid over N300,000 that time. You know the film has a short lifespan and I cannot understand why Baba Wande keeps harassing me over something that happened more than 20 years ago. If he thinks that the films are selling as he thinks, I can give him the right to produce, if that would solve the problem.

“It is painful that he didn’t even care whether we made our money from it or not. Even after all that experience, I took him to the Benin Republic to take part in Abeni and I always paid him whatever he demanded. Again, I invited him to play in Arugba. He doesn’t remember all those ones, but he can only remember bad things about me.

"In spite of the relative success of the 'Ti Oluwa Ni Ile' project, he doesn’t seem to see anything good in it and in me. It is very strange. I think it is a deliberate effort to blackmail me. I think he is broke, but I am broke too; we are all broke and that is the reality.

"This is why I refused to reply him instantly, because it won’t be good for the Yoruba race. I don’t know who is older; he would be probably older than me. I don’t expect him to be saying all that on the pages of a newspaper.

“I cannot do that, because I will be insulting the institutions of our traditional rulers and all eminent Nigerians. I think it is a very simple case that can be resolved. He is also not bothered what I went through when all my works, including the films were pirated. I almost died when it happened. It pains me a lot anytime Baba Wande refers to that issue. I have various pirated copies of my works in my Lagos office. I would say that he is entitled to his opinion on the things he said about me.

“Meanwhile, I have not said anything bad about him; not to talk of doing it in the public. There is nothing to settle; if people are interested, fine, not me. I have many challenges. I am pained because all my films have been pirated. He could not imagine what happened to me.”