Men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, has arraigned a 50-year-old accountant, Rasak Adeniji, before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, over alleged conspiracy, fraud, perjury, documents falsification, misrepresentation of fact, stealing and unlawful eviction.
The accountant was arraigned before the court presided over by Magistrate A. O. Olatunbosun on seven counts charge of the above-mentioned offences.
The prosecutor, Mr. Morufu Animashaun informed the court that the defendant (Adeniji) who was the accountant in Damtina Stores Limited, did conspired with others at large committed the offence between September to December 2018 in Lagos.
Animashaun told the court that the 50-year-old defendant with others at large, conspired among themselves to commit felony to defraud Damtina Stores Limited of its property, wrote two letters to Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) on September 28, 2021, with the letterhead of Damtina Stores Limited without authorisation of the company.
He also informed the court that the defendant lied on oath, before Magisterial District Court in Epe which he used in evicting one Jonathan Agwu, from18, Abibu Oki Street, Lagos Island.
According to Animashaun, “The defendant internationally misrepresented fact to his honour, Magistrate H.O. Amos sitting at Court 3, Epe, Magisterial District, falsely testified that one Jonathan Agwu was not a subsisting tenant of 18, Abibu Oki Street, Lagos Island which led to his unlawful eviction.”
He further told court that, “sometime between September to December 2018, defendant collected the sum of N250, 000.00 from Paulijyk Interbiz Limited in order to fast track the lease and falsified documents of Damtina Stores Limited to favour Paulijyk Interbiz Limited and also stole N10 million his employer.
Their offences contrary to and punishable under Section 325(1), 370(a)(b) and 412 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.
The offences according to the prosecutor also contravened Sections 287(8), 96(a) and section 83(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015 and punishable under the same Laws.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to all the counts charge preferred against him.
Following his plea, Animashaun prayed the court to remand him at the National Correctional Services (NCOS) facility, pending determination of the charge, while also asked for accelerated hearing of the case.
However, responding to his submission, the defendant counsel, Mr. BarristerO.Olusumade urged the court to grant his client bail.
Magistrate Olatunbosun therefore admitted him to bail of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate also ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant and second surety must be a land owner within the jurisdiction of the court.
While the magistrate ordered that the addresses of the two sureties be verified, she further ordered defendant to be remand at Ikoyi Correctional centre of NCOS, pending the perfection of his bail and subsequently adjourned to February 27, 2023.
