Alleged N950m fraud: Absence of ex-Punch staff, others stalls arraignment

The absence of a former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd., Olusegun Ogunbanjo and others, charged with N950 million fraud on Tuesday suffered a setback as the defendants failed to show up in court.

Other defendants in the suit numbered ID/21559C/2023 are Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Ltd., Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Ltd., and Godwin Benson.

When the case was called, only counsel to the first defendant, Mr Charles Jiakponna, appeared in court while there was no representation for other defendants.

Justice Ismail Ijelu asked the defence why all the defendants were absent in court without explanation.

Ijelu, thereafter, issued a bench warrant on all the defendants except Ogunbanjo.

The judge adjourned the case until March 28 for arraignment.

The court had on Feb.26 overruled the objections of the first defendant that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The court had ruled that court had thoroughly examined the information and proof of evidence in the case and formed the view that its jurisdiction to entertain the case was absolutely intact.

The court had ordered that all the defendants be produced in court to take their plea.

The Lagos State Government had on March 10, 2023 arraigned Ogunbanjo before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged N950 million fraud.

Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, following his not guilty plea to the three-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, forgery and stealing.

Ogunbanjo was alleged to have obtained N450 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin and N500 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun under false pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.

He also allegedly forged the organisation’s Local purchase orders to carry out the acts, in contravention of Sections 287, 314 and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The judge adjourned the case until March 14 for arraignment.