The Inspector General of Police has filed a five-count charge of conspiracy and fraudulent conversion against a Lagos business man, Adetola Adekunle Bejide and his company Pentoville Luxury Properties Limited.
This was sequel to a petition written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) by a Lagos lawyer, Rose Adima, on behalf of Hammoud Constructing & Contracting Limited, complaining of criminal breach of trust, cheating, fraud and embezzlement of $5,413,368,000 against Bejide and his company.
In the charge filed before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, by Police Legal Officer Barrister M. A. Animashaun from the Legal/Prosecution Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos, it was alleged that Adetola Adekunle Bejide, Pentoville Luxury Properties and others now at large sometime in 2021 at Banana Island by false pretense to purchase and register a property in the name of HAMMOUD CONSTRUCTING and CONTRACTING LIMITED and OAK PROPERTY LIMITED with intent to defraud collected the sum of $3,390,000 from one SAID HUSSEIN HAMMOUD.
However, the defendants purchased and registered the property in the name of Pentoville Luxury Properties Limited.
The two defendants were also alleged to have by false pretence promised to develop a vacant land owned by Diamond Oak Properties Limited lying and situate at Plot 26, Block iii, Oniru Chieftaincy Layout, Victoria Island, Lagos into Block of Luxury flats but fraudulently collected $1,523,368.00 from Said Hussein and converted same to his personal use
The offences alleged to have been committed by Adetola Adekunle Bejide and his company, Pentoville, are contrary to and punishable Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act laws of the Federation 2004.
The presiding Judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, has fixed 12 November, 2024 for the arraignment of the defendants.
The five count charge as filed before the court:
COUNT 1
That You ADETOLA ADEKUNLE BEJIDE (IVI), PENTOVILLE LUXURY PROPERTIES LIMITED and others (now at large) sometimes in the year 2021 at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division conspired to commit an offence to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and committed an Offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006
COUNT 2
That You 1.ADETOLA ADEKUNLE BEJIDE (M) and 2. PENTOVILLE LUXURY PROPERTIES LIMITED sometimes in year 2020 at Banana Island, lkoyi, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division by false pretence that you would purchase and register a property in the name of Hammoud Constructing and Contracting limited and Diamond Oak Property Limited and with intent to defraud collected the total sum of Three Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars ($3,390,000) from SAID HUSSEIN HAMMOUD but fraudulently purchased and registered the property in the name of your company-the 2nd Defendant, Pentoville Luxury Properties Limited and committed an Offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
COUNT 3
That you ADETOLA ADEKUNLE BEJIDE (M) and 2.and PENTOVILLE LUXURY PROPERTIES LIMITED sometimes in year 2021 at Banana Island, lkoyi, Lagos state in the Judicial Division by false pretence that you would develop a vacant land owned by Diamond Oak Properties Ltd and measuring 2005.667 Victoria Island, Lagos State into block of luxury flats collected the sum of One Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Eight United States of America Dollars ($ 1,523,368.00 ) from SAID HUSSEIN HAMMOUD and committed an Offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1.(3)of the same Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
COUNT 4
That You 1. ADETOLA ADEKUNLE BEJIDE (M) and 2. PENTOVILLE LUXURY PROPERTIES LIMITED sometimes in year 2021 at Banana Island, lkoyi, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division and with intent to permanently deprive One SAID HUSSEIN HAMMOUD to the use of the money dishonestly collected the total sum of Three Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars ($3,390,000) to purchase and register a property in the name of Hammoud Constructing and Contracting Limited and Diamond Oak Property Limited at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos but fraudulently bought the property and registered it in the name of your company-the 2nd Defendant, Pentoville Luxury Properties Limited and thereby converted the moneys to personal use and committed an Offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Laws of Federation 2004.
COUNT 5
That You 1. ADETOLA ADEKUNLE BEJIDE (M) and 2. PENTOVILLE LUXURY PROPERTIES LIMITED sometimes in year 2021 at Banana Island, lkoyi, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division and with intent to permanently deprive One SAID HUSSEIN HAMMOUD to the use of the money dishonestly collected the sum of One million, five hundred and twenty three thousand, three hundred and sixty-eight United States of America Dollars ($1,523,368.00) from Diamond Oak Properties Ltd to develop a piece of land measuring 2005.667 square metres into block of luxury flats but fraudulently converted same to your personal use and committed an Offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Laws of Federation 2004.