Lagos court rules on ex- Punch staff fraud suit Feb. 16

JUSTICE Ismail Ijelu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, fixed February 16, for ruling on its jurisdiction in alleged N950 million fraud case brought against a former staff of Punch Newspaper, Olusegun Ogunbanjo. Aside Ogunbanjo, other defendants in the suit marked: ID/ 21559C/ 2023 were Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Limited, Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Limited and Godwin Benson. Justice Ijelu fixed the date after the Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP), Dr Babajide Martins and the first defendant’s counsel, Mr C. J. Jiakponna, adopted their written addresses.

Jiakponna, who is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the alleged fraud suit, filed a 17- paragraph affidavit in support of his argument.

In his application dated November16, 2023, he prayed the court to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

He argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case and that the case was already ongoing in Sabo- Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court.

However, Dr Martins in his 11- paragraph counter affidavit dated December 11, 2023, urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection, noting that the objection lacks merit.

He said the case filed at the high court supersedes the one in the magistrate’s court.

The DPP also argued that there was no need to notify the defence of an interim order, adding that an interim order was in tandem with the law.

He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection for lacking in merit.

Recall that Ogunbanjo was arraigned before a Sabo- Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on Marc h10, 2023 , for the alleged N950 million fraud.

Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted him N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum, following his plea of not guilty to the threecount charge of obtaining by false pretences, forgery and stealing.

Ogunbanjo was alleged to have obtained N450 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin and N500 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun under false pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.

It was also alleged that he forged the organisation’s Local Purchase Orders to carry out the acts.

His offences are contrary to the provision of Sections 287, 314 and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.