Court told how suspected fake Army- general conceals name in N270m fraud
ALAGOS Special Offences Court, Ikeja was yesterday, told how a suspected fake Army General, Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun, perfected his change of name before swindling a businessman of N270 million.
A compliance officer with First Bank, Chris Ekpe, who revealed this in his evidence before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, said the bank received a notary publication dated December 20, 2016 with a letter of change of account name from the defendant on February 2, 2017.
Led- in- evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ( EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness, confirmed to the court that the alleged Army General’s name was Hassan Kareem Ayinde.
He said that the bank upon receipt of the change of name documents changed his account name from Hassan Kareem Ayinde to Olusegun Abiodun Bolarinwa.
When asked what was the account balance of the defendant at the time of the change of account name, the witness said it was N1, 319.04.
According to him, it was after the change of name that the defendant began to collect huge sums from the complainant.
The prosecution witness further told the court that the defendant started spending the money for various personal needs, ranging from debit alerts of boutiques and Automated Teller Machine ( ATM) withdrawals.
The defence counsel, Mr. Kayode Lawal didn’t cross- examined the witness, noting that there is no ambiguity in his testimony.
The prosecution counsel therefore tendered EFCC ‘ s request letter sent to the bank, Certificate of Compliance and Identification, the bank’s response letter and the account records of the defendants as evidence, which were later admitted as exhibits.
Also, the third prosecution witness, a United Bank of Africa ( UBA) Relationship Manager, Emmanuel Emaikwo, affirmed transactions between defendant and complainant. He tendered documents to back up his testimony.
Oyedepo therefore prayed the court for adjournment to bring the Investigating Officer and a representative of the Nigeria Army to testify.
Justice Taiwo subsequently adjourned to May 6,2022 for continuation of trial.
Abiodun is facing trial on a 13count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery of documents, and possession of documents containing false pretence valued at N266,500,000.00
He was arraigned on April 11, on the offences, which were contrary to Section 1 ( 3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006; Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015
His offence also contravened Section six of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.