The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its third prosecution witness, Felicia Paul, an operative of the EFCC, in the trial of land merchant Murtala Adebayo over an alleged N19 million fraud. The case is being heard by Justice Mojisola Dada at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Adebayo was arraigned on January 24, 2024, facing three counts of obtaining money by false pretences amounting to N19 million.
He entered a “not guilty” plea during the arraignment, which has led to a full trial.
During the resumed hearing, Paul, while being examined by the prosecution counsel Babangida Isah, identified the defendant in court.
She explained that her team investigated the case after the complainant, Gafar Ademolake, submitted a petition through his lawyer against Adebayo.
“Sometime in 2015, the complainant met the defendant regarding the purchase of land in Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki. He paid N4.5 million for the Ogombo land and another N14.5 million for the Ibeju-Lekki land.
“The complainant also provided the defendant with three cars: one Honda Civic and two Toyota Camry vehicles, valued at N9 million, in exchange for the land at Ibeju-Lekki,” Paul said.
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She continued her testimony by stating that the complainant made payments to the defendant in cash and through bank transfers, as documented in the complainant’s statement. Three staff members—Ahamed, Richard, and Godwin—collected these funds on behalf of the defendant.
According to Paul, when Ademolake came to adopt his petition, he presented several documents, including the Deeds of Assignment for the lands in Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki. She further testified that her team recovered N4.5 million related to the property in Ogombo and subsequently returned it to the complainant.
“We have evidence of both cash payments and transfers to the defendant’s staff, all acknowledged by him. When the complainant visited the land, he found others occupying it in Ogombo,” the witness added.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Bamidele Ogundele, Paul stated that Adebayo had been arrested along with his three staff members, all of whom confirmed that they had received payments at various times for the defendant.
Justice Dada has adjourned the matter until November 12, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
One of the counts states: “Murtala Adebayo, sometime in 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,500,000 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Gafar Abiodun Ademolake by falsely claiming that the payment was for three plots of land at Ogombo Ajah, Lagos, a representation he knew to be false.”
Another count states: “Murtala Adebayo, sometime in 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained three cars—two Toyota Camry 2005 models and one Honda Accord 2006 model—valued at an agreed N9,000,000 from Gafar Abiodun Ademolake by falsely claiming that the payment was for the balance of 18 plots of land at Ayogbemi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, a representation he knew to be false.”
