31st March, 2011
A Lagos-based developer, Atanda Abiodun, 43, of no fixed address has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on a 54-count charge of fraud.
Atanda Abiodun who operates with the name BAIAT Property and Sons was alleged to have used a storey building at 9, Alhaja Ramota Street, Egbeda, Lagos to defraud his victims.
According to a police prosecutor, the defendants committed the offences between 20 October, 2010 and 31 January, 2011.
He was said to have collected over N12 million from prospective tenants without providing accommodation for them.
But luck ran out on the developer when he was nabbed by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
One of the charges pressed against him reads: “That you, Atanda Abiodun on 18 January, 2011 at Egbeda in the Lagos Magisterial District did steal the sum of N140,000 belonging to Miss Yinka Talabi and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.â€
Another charge reads: “That you, Atanda Abiodun on 18 January, 2011 at Egbeda in the Lagos Magisterial District did by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtain the sum of N255,000 from Akindamola Boride and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.â€
Abiodun pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. Philip A. Ojo, admitted him on bail in the sum of N500,000, with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The sureties, he directed, must be blood-related to the accused and must show evidence of payment of tax to the Lagos State government, show evidence of means of livelihood and have their addresses verified by the court.
The case has been adjourned till 20 April, 2011 for trial.
He was later moved to Ikoyi Prisons as he could not meet the bail conditions before the court closed for the day.
One of the detectives who brought him to court, who craved anonymity told P.M.NEWS that the developer had been arrested and arraigned twice in August and December 2005 for similar offences.
Some of the victims told this medium that the developer gave them different names such as Ibrahim Odunmbaku, Atanda Ibrahim, Atanda Abiodun, Atanda Ibrahim Odunmbaku and many others when he was collecting money from them.
