Alleged N1.2b fraud: Court orders businessman’s arrest
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the police and other security agencies to arrest a businessman, Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji. Justice Alexander Owoeye issued a warrant of arrest marked
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the police and other security agencies to arrest a businessman, Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji.
Justice Alexander Owoeye issued a warrant of arrest marked Form E, dated February 18, following the prosecution’s request.
The defendant was scheduled to appear in court for his trial on charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, and fraud amounting to N1,207,000,000 brought against him by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos.
The PSFU, in a charge marked FHC/L/583c/’25, accused the fleeing businessman and the duo of Oladejo Funmilayo Grace and Abiola Oluwasegun of committing the alleged offences on November 30, 2024, in Lagos.
The businessman and his co-defendants were alleged to have fraudulently obtained the money from one Otunba Seye Famojuro under the pretence of purchasing a vehicle and real estate property for him.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Achi Caleb, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), are contrary to Sections 8(1) and 1(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The offence is also contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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However, since the charge was filed and served on the defendant through his email address and on his lawyer by an order of the court delivered last November, he has not appeared in court to take his plea on the allegations.
The matter has been adjourned to May 25 for the defendant’s arraignment.
Parts of the amended charge against the defendant read: “That you, Mr. Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji, on or before the 30th day of November, 2024, within the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, conspired with one Oladejo Funmilayo Grace ‘m’ and Abiola Oluwasegun ‘m’, now at large, to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining funds to the total N1,207,000,000, only from one Otunba Seye Famojuro ‘m’ under the false pretence of purchasing a vehicle and real estate property for him, knowing same to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
“Mr. Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji, and one Oladejo Funmilayo Grace ‘f’, and Abiola Oluwasegun ‘m’, now at large, on November 30, 2024 in Lagos, within the aforesaid Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained N270,000,000 only from one Otunba Seye Famojuro ‘m’ under the false pretence of purchasing a vehicle for him (Mercedes Benz GLE 63S, 2024 model), knowing same to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
“Mr. Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji, on or before the 30th day of November, 2024, within the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, conspired with one Oladejo Funmilayo Grace ‘f’ and Abiola Oluwasegun ‘m’, now at large, to commit a felony, to wit: taking possession or control of proceeds of crime to the N1,207,000,000 only from one Otunba Seye Famojuro ‘m’, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“Mr. Rolland Oluwasegun Elusoji, and one Oladejo Funmilayo Grace ‘f’ and Abiola Oluwasegun ‘m’, now at large, on or about the 30th day of November, 2024 at Lagos, within the aforesaid Judicial Division, did directly or indirectly acquire, take possession or control of N1,207,000,000 only from one Otunba Seye Famojuro ‘m’, intentionally, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
