A Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed February 27, for the arraignment of son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Gbolahan and four others for alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence in N1, 356, 057, 330. 43 billion fraud.
Obanikoro will be arraigned alongside Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M. O. B. Integrated Limited and DDSS International Company Limited before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa.
The judge fixed the date on Friday as a sequel to the defendants’ failure to be in court on Friday for their arraignment.
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The Inspector General of Police, through the office of the police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that all the defendants had between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1, 356, 057, 330. 43 billion from Access Bank PLC formerly Diamond Bank, by falsely presenting through its staff member and officers of the bank that they were into the business of cars importation from Dubai for sale in Nigeria and that the money was the cost of financing the importation of a set of brand new cars from Dubai to restock their business and for sale to your various customers.
They were also alleged to have directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, taken possession or control of N1, 356, 057, 330.43 billion, belonging to now Access Bank PLC, formerly Diamond Bank, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds was, or formed part of the proceeds of crime.
All the defendants were also alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to Access Bank, formerly Diamond Bank PLC, for personal use.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, the prosecutor, M. Y. Bello, informed the court that the matter was slated for the arraignment of all the defendants.
He, however, asked the court for another date to enable all the defendants to be in court to take their pleas on the charges against them
Counsel to the defendants, Joshua A., told the court that his clients were not in the country, adding that only the companies named in the charge were served with the charge sheet.
He, however, assured the court that all the defendants would be in court at the next adjourned date to take their plea on the charges.
Following the counsel’s submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27 for arraignment of all defendants.
The five-count charge against the defendants reads: “that you Adejare Adegbenro ‘m’, Gbolahan Obanikoro ‘m’, Balmoral international Limited, M. O. B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd and other Directors of the Companies (now at large) between May and September 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud did conspire to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(i) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.
“That you Adejare Adegbenro ‘m’, Gbolahan Obanikoro ‘m’, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd and other Directors of the Companies (now at large) between May and September 2013, in Lagos, within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud the total sum of N1, 356, 057, 330. 43 (One Billion, Three and Fifty Six Million, Fifty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty Three Kobo) from Diamond Bank now Access Bank PLC by falsely presenting through its staff and officers of the bank that you and your companies, Balmoral International Limited and M. O. B Integrated Limited were into the business of cars importation from Dubai for sate in Nigeria and that the money was the cost of financing the importation of a set of brand new cars from Dubai to restock your business and for sale to your various customers, based on this representation, the Bank released the said money to you as a loan facility for the importation and sale of the cars, which representation you knew to be false or did not believe to be true o¢ which you made recklessly, which you subsequently diverted the satd money to your own personal use and benefits and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(I) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Punishable Under Section 1(3) of the saine Act
“That you Adejare Adegbenro ‘m’, Gbolahan Obanikoro ‘m’, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B Integrated Limited, DDSS international Company Ltd and other Directors of the Companies (now at large) between May and September 2013, in Lagos State, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of Federal High Court, Lagos, did directly or indirectly converts, transfers, retains, takes possession or control of N1, 356, 057, 330.43 (One Billion, Three and Fifty Six Million, Fifty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty Three Kobo) belonging to Diamond Bank now Access Bank PLC, which you intentionally, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is, or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful Act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you Adejare Adegbenro ‘m’, Gbolahan Obanikoro ‘m’, Balmoral International Limited, M.0.B Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd and other Directors of the Companies (now at large) sometime in May 2019 in Lagos within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N1, 000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) from Diamond Bank now Access Bank PLC by falsely presenting through its staff and officers of the bank that you and your company, DDSS International Company were into the business of cars importation from Dubai for sale in Nigeria and that the money was for the cost of financing the importation of a set of brand new cars from Dubai to restock your business and for sale to your various customers and based on this representation, the Bank released the said money to you through the account of your company known as DDSS International Company as a loan facility which you subsequently diverted from the said account of DOSS International Company to account of another of your company now as Balmoral international Limited for the purpose of disguising the true origin or source of the money and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Punishable Under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you Adejare Adegbenro ‘m’, Gbolahan Obanikoro ‘m’, Balmoral international Limited, M.O.B Integrated Limited, DOSS International Company Ltd and other Directors of the Companies (now at large) sometime in May 2019, in Lagos State, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of Federal High Court, Lagos, did directly or indirectly converts, transfers, takes possession or control of N1,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) belonging to Diamond Bank now Access Bank Plc, which you intentionally, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is, or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful Act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
