By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An Ibadan-based lawyer, Mr Adesile Obasa, has been dragged before Justice Omolara Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court 12, Ibadan.
Mr Obasa was arraigned in court on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, by the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency informed Justice Adeyemi that the lawyer, who claimed to be the chairman of the Young Lawyers Association, Oyo State chapter, prepared an agreement form for his clients given to some investors.
The EFCC argued that Mr Obasa did not carry out due diligence to verify the registration status of the companies he prepared the form for with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.
The agency alleged that the firms, Batom Golden Links Service Ltd and Mekash Integrated Ventures, promoted by Mr Temitope Akintunde and Fasuhanmi Omotayo, were used to dupe unsuspecting investors.
The EFCC claimed it received a petition from one Pralarg International, alleging that Mr Akintunde along with four others sometime in 2017 approached the firm to invest in the company with an agreement to pay 50 per cent return at the end of every month, which was not met.
This brought the EFCC to the picture, which slammed the suspects with 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence.
“That you, Temitope Akintunde, Adesile Obasa, Fasunhanmi Omotayo, Batom Golden Links Service limited and Mekash Integrated Ventures Limited on or about May 2017 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this court with intent to defraud conspired to obtain money from several investors who invested the sum of N2.4 million for a lottery in the company Batom Golden Links Service limited and Mekash Integrated Ventures under the false pretext of paying the investors monthly returns of 50 per cent interest of money invested in the company which representations you knew to be false,” one of the charges read.
However, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and the defence counsel applied orally for the defendants’ bail but prosecution counsel, Murtala Usman, opposed the application and asked for a trial date.
While ruling, Justice Adeyemi granted them bail in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum, who are to provide valid means of identification which will be verified by the EFCC.
The judge further said the sureties must have evidence of landed property in Ibadan and submit their International passport with the court, while the matter was adjourned till February 15, 2021, for the commencement of trial.
