Twin brothers, 6 others arraigned over alleged diversion of N31.7m

Police in Lagos yesterday arraigned twin brothers, Taiwo and Kehinde Akintade, 34, and six others, before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly diverting the sum of N31.788. 040, belonging to one Jamiu Oke.

The six other persons arraigned alongside the twins are: Jelili Elo, 35, Adeshina Sikiru,32, Sadiq Morufu, Femi Adegboyega, 27, Dada Ishola, 32, and Mohammed Yunusa, 28.

The twins brothers and other defendants were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku-led court on two count charges bordering on conspiracy and unlawful diversion of the said amount, by the men of Federal Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), AlagbonIkoyi, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on March 20, 2018, at Isolo area of the state where they were working for the complainant, Jamiu Oke.

He told the court that upon discovery of the missing fund, the complainant wrote a petition to the Commissionerin-Charge of FCIID, Mr. Hamed Mogaji, who ordered investigation into the petition, and that at the completion of the investigation, all the defendants were found culpable of the alleged offences, and they were subsequently brought before the court on the two count charges.

Barrister Animashaun told the court that the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 411 and 287(5) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea of not guilty, their lawyer, Mr. M. A. Popoola, urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms, adding that his clients have responsible sureties, and that they will not jump bail, if granted.

Responding, the prosecutor said granting bail to defendants is at court’s discretion. He however stated that if the court is mindful of admitting bail to the defendants, it should be with the terms that will ensure the attendance of the defendants in court for their trial.

Ruling on the submissions of the parties, Chief Magistrate Botoku, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties each.

Botoku ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payable to the Lagos State Government, and have their residence and means of livelihood verified by the prosecutor. The Chief Magistrate while adjourned the matter to September 4 for trial and ordered remand of the four defendants.