7th May, 2023
By Akin Kuponiyi
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, has filed a three-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence against a Lagos businessman, Yemi Ogundein, and five orders before the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The five alleged accomplices are Mayowa Janet Ogundein, Ahmed Alli, Olubunmi Alli, Meetneeds Investment Services Limited and Mayor Farms and Agro Services Limited.
They were alleged to have fraudulently obtained farm produce valued at N25 million from one Kola Sobowale.
In the three-count charge filed before the court by the Police Legal team from Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, led by Barrister Onyeka Ekeweozor, it was alleged that Yemi Ogundein, Mayowa Janet Ogundein, Ahmed Alli, Olubunmi Alli, Meetneeds Investment Services Limited and Mayor Farms and Agro Services Limited and others currently at Large on the same date time and place with intent to defraud did fraudulently obtain the sum of Ten million Naira from one Kola Sobowale.
However, the counsel to the defendants, Prince(Dr.) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho (SAN) has filed an application before the court, urging the court to quash the charge as it does not contain any or sufficient material to show that the defendants have any prima facie case to answer.
The three counts as filed before the court by the Police are:
COUNT I: That you YEMI OGUNDEIN, MAYOWA JANET OGUNDEIN, AHMED ALLI, OLUBUNMI ALLI and others currently at large sometime in 2016, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 8 (c) of the same Act.
COUNT II: That you YEMI OGUNDEIN, MAYOWA, JANET OGUNDEIN, AHMED ALLI, OLUBUNMI ALLI, MEETNEEDS INVESTMENT SERVICES LTD ., MAYOR FARMS AND AGRO SERVICES LTD. and others currently at large on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did fraudulently obtain farm produce valued Twenty-Five Million Naira (N25,000,000.00) from one KOLA SOBOWALE in the pretext that you will pay immediately after its delivery, a representation you know to be false and does not believe to be true and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and(b) of the Advance fee fraud and other fraud-related offences Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
COUNT III: That you YEMI OGUNDEIN, MAYOWA JANET OGUNDEIN, AHMED ALLI, OLUBUNMI ALLI, MEETNEEDS INVESTMENT SERVICES LTD, MAYOR FARMS AND AGRO SERVICES LTD. and others currently at large on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did fraudulently obtain the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00) from one KOLA SOBOWALE in the pretext that you will help him invest same in your government licensed money lending business venture, a representation you know to be false and does not believe to be true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The Court has fixed May 24, 2023 for all the defendants to be arraigned.