Juliet Oladele, Reporting
THE Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Adeoye Gabriel Adewale and his firm, De Lukas Global Concept Limited, before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.
The defendant is accused of defrauding one Abdulrasaq Awotedo to the tune of N7,819,000 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira) after allegedly presenting himself as a legitimate car dealer. Prosecutors claim Adewale lured his victim through a fake car mart, received payment for two vehicles via his company’s First Bank account, and subsequently converted the funds for his personal use.
Adewale was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion, contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The charge reads: “That you, Adeoye Gabriel Adewale and De Lukas Global Concept Limited between 6th October, 2021 and 23rd March, 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own personal use, the sum of N7,819,000.00 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira), property of one Abdulrasaq Awotedo and thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Section 390(9) Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to him.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galandachi, prayed the court for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, defence counsel, A. Towolawi, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of his client and urged the court to grant him bail pending the hearing and determination of the substantive charge.
Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the matter for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Adewale be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan until the next adjourned date.
