18th November, 2022
By Paul Iyoghojie
Raymond Akala Ayodele, 36, has been arrested and dragged to court after being accused of obtaining N3 million from a a teacher and resident of Ikorodu, Lagos, Mrs Omowumi Arowosegbe.
Ayodele claimed to be the Managing Director of ERIIFEi Divine Global Enterprise and a Pastor. He was arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Command, Lagos.
According to the police, the accused, who also claimed to be a former staff of Friesland Capena located at Ogba, Lagos allegedly collected the money from the complainant on the pretext to use the money buy goods with the promise to share the profits from the sale of the goods with the complainant equally.
The police said after the complainant transferred the money into the defendant’s account based on the agreement, the defendant disappeared and converted the money to his use.
The police added that when the complainant did not hear from the defendant after some months, she petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos who directed his men to fish out the fleeing suspect anywhere he might be hiding.
The Police team swung into action and track the defendant to a hideout in Lagos and arrested him.
Ayodele, a resident of Amule, Ipaja Ayobo, Lagos was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Police prosecuting Counsel, ASP Ibrahim Haruna informed the court that the defendant committed the offence in February, 2022 in Lagos.
Haruna told the Court that the defendant fraudulently collected the N3m from the complainant to invest it in lucrative business with a promise to share the profits of the business with the complainant, but that instead, the defendant converted the money to his use and went into hiding before he was arrested.
Haruna said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sessions 314(1) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mrs Ggajumo Ayoku granted him N750,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Ayoku adjourned the case till 7 December, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.