Led by the prosecution counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, Arifayan, who is the first prosecution witness, PW1, told the court that sometime in October 10, 2017, their firm, Sofunde, Ogundipe and Belgore, received an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He said the invitation letter was brought to the notice of his Principal pursuant to a property located on Plot 38b, Mobolaji Johnson, Oregun Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

Given further testimony, he said upon receipt of the letter dated October 10, 2017, their firm wrote a reply, explaining the role of the firm concerning the property and attached relevant documents.

The witness further told the court that sometime in 2004, their client, who is the majority shareholder of a Brazilian Bank named Banco Noroeste S.A. made a complaint to the EFCC about an alleged fraud perpetrated by certain people, including Nwude, to the tune of $190 million.

He said: “Upon the petition, the defendant was charged in suit No. ID/92c/2004.

“In a judgment delivered on November 18, 2005 by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, Emmanuel Nwude, who was the 1st defendant, and others, including Emrus Auto Nigeria Limited, were convicted and sentenced.

“Sentence three of the judgment specifically ordered that shares and other undertakings of the first defendant and Emrus Auto Nigeria Ltd be forfeited to victims of the fraud.

“The sentence also made reference to a schedule, which is the list of properties that should be so forfeited.

“The relevant part of the schedule is the 26th item, which is annexed to the amended information dated Nov. 18, 2005 upon which the defendant was convicted and sentenced.”

The witness said that pursuant to the judgment, his clients, who were the victims of Nwude’s crimes, sold the property located at Plot 38b Mobolaji Johnson, Oregun, Lagos, which initially belonged to Emrus Auto Nigeria Limited to Rossab International Limited.

PW1 also told the court that “before the Deed was registered to Rossab International Limited, our clients had registered the Deed of Assignment at the Land Registry.

“It was on the strength of the judgment of Justice Oyewole and the registration of the Deed of Assignment that our client sold the property to Rossab International Limited.

“My Lord, the said judgment of Justice Oyewole was appealed to the Court of Appeal by the first defendant.

“The Court of Appeal found the respondents as victims of the offence in which the appellant (Nwude) was the perpetrator.

“Till now, we are unaware of any appeal of the Court of Appeal’s judgment.”

At that point in Falodun’s evidence, Omewa requested for an adjournment to enable him tender some other documents relevant to the case, but which were not readily available during today’s proceedings.

“The case files containing the documents are not in court. We will be requesting for a date to continue the testimony of the witness and to tender the documents,” the EFCC counsel said.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case till April 18, 2018 for continuation of trial.

The post How Nwude, notorious fraudster, tampered with forfeited property – Witness appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Since the criminal charge was preferred against Ajudua few months back, Bamaiyi who was freed early 2008 by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole appeared before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo with some members of his family.

Though the proceedings could not go on due to the absence of Olalekan Ojo, lead counsel to Ajudua, the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, told the court that it had amended the earlier charge filed against the lawyer.

EFCC had accused Ajudua of collecting the amount from the former Chief of Army Staff while they were both in custody at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Ajudua and other still at large made false representation to Bamaiyi claiming that the money was meant to help secure his release from custody as well as payment for professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle his case in court.

Ajudua had since pleaded not guilty to the charge, but prayed the trial court to also dismiss the charge, while asking for the trial Bamaiyi instead.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Ajudua told the court presided over by Justice Ipaye that he had issues with his lawyer which is yet to be resolved.

Despite the development, EFCC counsel informed the court that the initial charged against Ajudua has been amended.

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Ajudua, alongside others who are still at large, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, defrauded a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd) of about $8.395 million while in detention at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

Other suspects involved in the scam and who are on the run are Alumile Adedeji(a.k.a Ade Bendel), Princess Hamabon William and one Kenneth.

Ajudua and Charles Orie are already facing trial at the Lagos High Court for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen of $1.69 million.

EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh told the court that Ajudua and his accomplices, fraudulently collected the money from Bamaiyi in instalments, claiming that the payments represented the professional fees charged by Afe Babalola, SAN, to handle Bamaiyi’s case in court and facilitate his release from prison.

Besides, Ajudua claimed that $1million out of the money collected from Bamaiyi would be used to assist Justice Olubunmi Oyewole offset the payment of the hospital bill of his father who, Ajudua falsely claimed, was on admission at the Saint Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, for an undisclosed ailment.

Justice Oyewole was presiding over Bamaiyi’s case in court at the time.

Ajudua’s counsel, Richard Ahoharuogba told the court that his client only became aware of the matter on Saturday and could not attend the court session because “he is still seriously ill”. He then sought an adjournment to enable Ajudua appear in court.

Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter till February 12, 2014 for arraignment and ordered that a warrant of production be served on the prison authority where Ajudua is being detained to enable him appear at the next adjourned date.

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