Hell was let loose today at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, when a middle aged man who claimed to be a victim of a suspected fraudster, Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele, double-crossed him as he attempted to leave the premises and accused him of duping him of N2 billion.
Atoyebi was heavily guarded by three Military men as he attempted to leave the court premises.
Sensing danger of being accused of being on illegal duty, the three soldiers escaped from the scene, leaving Atoyebi at the mercy of his accuser.
The visibly traumatised victim shouted repeatedly at the court’s security staff: “Please, lock the gate. Don’t let him escape. He duped me of N2 billion.”
The court security men promptly closed the gate as a crowd of lawyers and others gathered to witness the incident.
Thereafter, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who had laid ambush for the defendant (Atoyebi) whisked him away.
In a separate charge number FHC/L/CS/460C/23 filed before the court by the Police Legal Officer, FCID Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Mr. S.O. Ayodele, the accused, Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele and Obinna Ozuah were alleged to have obtained from Mrs. Priscillia Oyiowo the sum of N157,200,000 under false pretense.
The two men were initially arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro before the case file was re-assigned to Justice Ogazi.
The amended four count charge as stated:
COUNT 1
That you (1) Obinna Ózuah ‘M’ and (2) Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele sometimes between December 2022 and January 2023, in Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit, Obtaining money by false pretense and stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, CAP A8 Vol 1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.
COUNT II
That you, (1) Obinna Ozuah ‘M’ and (2) Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did by false pretense and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N157,200,000:00k) from one Mrs. Priscilia Oyiowo under the pretense of converting same into dollars and send same to China for purchase of goods, a pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT III
That you (1) Obinna Ozuah ‘M’ and (2) Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did steal the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N157,200,000:00) from one Mrs. Priscillia Oyiowo under the pretense of converting same into dollars and send same to China for purchase of goods but converted it to your own personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C 38,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
COUNT IV
That you (1) Obinna Ozuah ‘M’ and (2) Atoyebi Lateef Bamidele ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did forge a telex document in order to convince one Mrs. Priscillia Oyiowo that you have made dollar transfers to agricultural bank of China for payment of goods, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 467 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C 3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The case was mentioned today and adjourned to April 17, 2024 for trial to commence.