A bench warrant has been issued by a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja against former Punch Nigeria Ltd. employee Olusegun Ogunbanjo and other defendants charged with fraud of N950 million.
Justice Ismail Ijelu ordered the bench warrant against Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Ltd., Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Ltd., and Godwin Benson as well.
The order of arrest was made after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, requested the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendants due to their non-appearance in court.
Ms Ugochukwu, counsel for the first defence counsel, Mr Charles Jiakponna, did not oppose the request but prayed for a short adjournment for his senior colleague to be in court.
The judge, in his ruling, said the first defendant had been served with proof of service since Dec 12, 2023, in which Jiakponna had been appearing as his counsel in the case.
The first defendant was aware of the criminal charges against him but failed to appear in court.
A general rule in criminal proceedings is that when a defendant is aware of criminal charges against him but wilfully stayed away without a valid reason, his attendance could be secured by a bench warrant.
The judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the first defendant and other defendants in the case.
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On March 10, 2023, the Lagos State Government arraigned Ogunbanjo before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud of N950 million.
Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, following his not guilty plea to the three-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, forgery and stealing.
Ogunbanjo was alleged to have obtained N450 million from one Mr Olusola Ikuyajesin, and N500 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun under false pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.
He also allegedly forged the organisation’s Local purchase orders to carry out the acts, in contravention of Sections 287, 314, and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The arraignment of the defendants on March 19 suffered a setback due to their absence in court.
The case has been adjourned until April 30, for arraignment.
The court had on Feb. 26 overruled the objections of the first defendant that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
The court had ruled that it had thoroughly examined the information and proof of evidence in the case and formed the view that its jurisdiction to entertain the case was intact.
The court had ordered that all the defendants be produced in court to take their plea.
