A Lagos State Special Offences Court, in Ikeja has revoked the bail of a suspected fraudster, Babatunde Olaogun, who allegedly jumped bail to commit similar offences in another state.
Olaogun is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and forgery.
Justice Sherifat Solebo withdrew the bail that was granted to the defendant, after he was re-arrested and brought to court.
The judge expressed her displeasure with the defendant for absconding after his wife stood in as a surety and he was granted bail, only to commit a similar offence in Abuja.
“I do not want the wife to suffer. Should I take away the mother away from her child? Will it be fair to them? And of course, his elderly mother was also in court!
“His story is all over the internet. Is it really a crime to marry a husband who is untruthful, deceitful, fraudulent and lacks training?”
The judge also showed displeasure at the way the defendant appeared in court with a blackish substance all over his body, claiming that he had chicken pox.
“There was a time he came to my court, saying he has chicken pox or measles.
“That was the first time I would see anybody in this Lagos with chicken pox coloured in black.
“What I know is white calamine lotion, but he came to court looking like all those herbalists,” the judge said.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Ms Bilikisu Buhari, had informed the court that the commission was able to bring the defendant to court after he was re-arrested and charged to court in Abuja for a similar offence.
Buhari alleged that the defendant committed the offences with one Jydining Global Ltd, still at large, on Jan. 24, 2014, Jan. 24, 2015 and March 23, 2015 in Ikeja.
She alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N14.8 million from Red Oak Trust and Investment Ltd on the pretext that the money was the cost of a contract awarded to unveiling Royalty Enterprises by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Nigeria Ltd, a representation he knew to be false.
The prosecution also submitted that the defendant allegedly forged the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Nigeria Ltd letter, dated March 24, 2015, and addressed to the Managing Director of Red Oak Trust and Investment Ltd.
She also alleged that the defendant’s letter was captioned, “Re: supply of items for the DSO offshore project”, signed by one Ademola Orenuga, and claimed that the said letter emanated from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Nigeria Ltd.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened sections 8(a) and 1(3), 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and 363(1)of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
