A Special Offences Court in Lagos, has reserved August 21, for judgment in a case of stealing filed against two businessmen, Oluwagbemileke Zakariah, and Orioye Akinbami, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court arrived at the decision after the prosecution and the defence counsel adopted their final written addresses.
Zachariah and Akinbami was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on July 8, 2019, alongside Biodun Ebenezer who was convicted after changing his plea to being guilty as charge.
The defendant was charged with seven counts bordering on conspiracy and stealing of ten million naira.
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They pleaded not guilty to the charges, after two years of trial, the second defendant in the previous charge, Biodun Bolarinwa Ebenezer, in February 2021, entered into a plea bargain and was convicted accordingly.
EFCC, subsequently, closed its case in Jan 2022 after calling two witnesses.
Thereafter, the defendants open their defence as a sole witness.
Adopting the final written addresses, EFCC Counsel, Samuel Daaji urged the court to uphold his case.
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In a counter reaction, Defence Counsel, N. Onyejeaka urged the court to dismiss all the charges against his client and set him free because the prosecution had not proven their case beyond reasonable doubts.
According to the charges against the defendants by the EFCC, it was alleged that Oluwagbemileke Zakariah, Biodun Bolarinwa Ebenezer, Orioye Akinbami, Shonoiki Ibrahim Adeniyi (Still at large) and Owode lwalokun (still at Large) on or about the 18th day of October, 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the said sum by false pretence from one Mr. Jawando Bashiru Olalekan by representing to him that the said sum represented the purchase price for two units of DH scrap Caterpillar owned by you which representation you knew to be false.
The offences is said to be contrary to section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011 and contrary to Section 1 (2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006
