A Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, will, on April 12, rule on “No Case Submission” filed by an Oil marketer, Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun, who was charged before the court on alleged issuance of dud cheques valued at $1.6 million.
The presiding judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, gave the date after entertaining argument from both prosecutor and defence counsel as to whether the defendant has a case to answer or not.
Oluokun’s Counsel, Mr Onyeke Edoka, submitted that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
In his response, EFCC counsel, Mr Samuel Daaji, asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced by the prosecution sufficiently linked the defendant to the offences to warrant him to be called on to open his defence and make explanations.
The prosecution closed its case in October last year after calling its 7th witness.
Read Also: ICPC Narrates How Stanbic IBTC Aid PPMC Fraud
Oluokun, who is said to be an Assistant Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, was charged alongside his oil firm, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendant and his company were first arraigned before the court on January 21, 2019, on two counts charge of the offence.
The charge was later reviewed to five-count charges on July 30, last year, upon additional facts that emerged from the Investigation.
EFCC, in a charge, marked ID/8509c/19, alleged that the defendant and his company, sometimes in 2014, approached the management of GOSL Nigeria Limited for a loan of $1 million and $666,666 to enable him to carry out operational activities in his company’s oil field in Bayelsa State.
He was said to have assured the company, the complainant in the charge against him, that he would repay the money within sixty days.
Click To Read: Loan Facility’s Reconciliation: Stallion & Zenith Bank To Be Audited
Following the defendant’s failure to repay the loan as promised, he was alleged to have issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques dated June 26, 2014, for the sum of $1 million and $666,666, respectively.
The EFCC stated that upon presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal by the complainant on several occasions, they were returned due to insufficient funds.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is contrary to and punishable Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Ayodeji had pleaded not guilty to the charges and accordingly admitted to bail in some terms and conditions.
the charges read: “That you, Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun and Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on or about 26th June, 2014, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited Cheque dated 26th June, 2014 for the sum of $1,000,000 (One Million Dollars) only payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited, which when presented for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.”
The second count reads: “That you, Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun and Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on or about 26th June, 2014, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited Cheque dated 26th June, 2014 for the sum $666,666 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Dollars only) payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited which when presented for payment was dishonoured because no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.”
