ARMY CAPTAIN & OTHERS CHARGED TO COURT FOR FRAUD, LAND GRABBING, SEE PICS

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission ( EFCC ) , Lagos Zonal Office, has
arraigned one Prince Adeniran Owen Alao , a
retired Army Captain , and four others for
alleged land fraud before Justice Oluwatoyin
Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in
Ikeja, Lagos .Alao , who is also the Baale of Megida Town,
Ayobo , Ipaja, Lagos , is facing trial alongside,
Kolusade Oluwafemi , Quadro Lookman and
Atinuse Albert, Owerser Nigeria Limited on a
four – count charge bordering on stealing,
offering gratification to a public official ,
corruption and abuse of office by a public
official .

One of the counts reads : “ That you, Prince
Adeniran Owen Alao , Owerser Nigeria Limited ,
Kolusade Oluwafemi , Quadro Lookman ,
Atinuse Albert, sometime in 2014 , within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,
dishonesty stole One Hundred and One acres of
land at P &T , Ipaja, Akinyele , Lagos , property of
the Federal Government ”
Another count reads : “ That you , Prince
Adeniran Owen Alao , sometime in 2014 , within
the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,
promised, offered and gave Kolusade
Oluwafemi , Quadro Lookman , Atinuse Albert,
whist being public officials of the Federal
Ministry of Justice , but posted to the Federal
Ministry of Lands , Housing and Urban
Development and Federal Ministry of Power ,
Works and Housing, respectively in order that
they can act or refrain from acting the exercise
of their official duties . ”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the
charges preferred against them.
In view of the defendants’ pleas of not guilty ,
the prosecution counsel , Ayanfeoluwa
Ogunsina, asked the court for a trial date .
However , counsel for the first , second , fourth
and fifth defendants, Bolaji Ayorinde , SAN , told
the court that , though he was not opposed to
the prayer by the prosecution for a trial date ,
he had filed application for bail of his clients.
He further told the court that the prosecution
counsel had served him with a response to the
bail applications for his clients.
Ayorinde , therefore , prayed the court to admit
the first , fourth and fifth defendants to bail on
self – recognition or very liberal terms , pending
the hearing and determination of the charges
against them.

Counsel to the third defendant , Kehinde Sanni –
Mutusei, urged the court to remand his client
in the custody of the EFCC , pending the hearing
of his bail application.
Sanni – Mutusei also told the court that the third
defendant is a legal practitioner with the
Ministry of Justice and that he would not
constitute a flight risk .

However , the prosecution counsel , Ogunsina, in
his response , told the court that he had , on
October 8, 2020 , filed a counter – affidavit to the
bail applications filed by the defence counsel
and also filed a written address same day ,
which he would adopt as his argument .
Ogunsina further told the court that the first
defendant might interfere with his respective
witnesses during the trial , particularly because
of his status as retired military personnel and
businessman.

“ Whilst I am not opposed to your Lordship
granting the defendants ’ applications for bail , it
should be on very strong conditions that would
enforce their attendance in court for the trial , ”
he said .
However , counsel to the third defendant, in his
response , told the court that his client is based
in Abuja and that he had been on
administrative bail since 2017 .
In her ruling on the bail applications , Justice
Taiwo granted the first defendant , Alao , bail in
the sum of N20 m , with two sureties .
One of the sureties must be a landowner , while
the other must be a family member , with
evidence of gainful employment.
The third, fourth and fifth defendants were
granted bail in the sum of N5 m each, with one
surety in like sum .
The sureties must be family members or
colleagues , whose addresses or offices must be
verified .

The judge gave approval for the counsel to the
first , fourth and fifth defendants to sign an
undertaking to produce them at the next
adjourned date .
The third defendant was ordered to be
remanded in the EFCC custody pending the
perfection of his bail conditions .
He would, however , be transferred to the
Correctional Service custody if he is unable to
perfect his bail conditions in the next seven
days .
The case was adjourned to November 11 , 2020 ,
for the commencement of trial .

Source:
https://m.guardian.ng/news/efcc-arraigns-army-captain-others-over-alleged-land-fraud/