Court adjourns Olusanya’s trial to Feb. 10

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed February 10, 2025, for the continuation of the trial of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oak Homes Ltd., Olukayode Olusanya and his company, for allegedly defrauding a United States-based Nigerian engineer, Anthony Ehiedu Ugbebor, N152 million under false pretences.

The defendants were arraigned by the Police on four counts amended charge of threat to murder, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conspiracy.

In the charge marked FHC/L/261C/2024, dated April 15, 2024, the police alleged that Olusanya, allegedly conspired with the head of sales and marketing manager of his firm, Lynda Umeh, who is now at large, to commit the offences.

According to the charge filed by a Superintendent of Police, Monday Omo-Osagie from Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, the defendants connived and offered the sale of two units of three-bedroom flats on the second floor at Oak Residence located at 14A Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, to Ugbebor, under the false pretence that it was for sale.

The prosecution said the alleged incident took place between November 8 and 21, 2017, and August 4, 2020.

The defendants were also accused of fraudulently obtaining the sum of N85 million and N49 million between November 21, 2017, and August 4, 2020, from the complainant, Ugbebor.

Also, the defendants were alleged to have defrauded Ugbebor by inducing him to pay N152 million for the two units of the property at the Oak Residence with the promise to deliver possession on February 28, 2019, as outlined in the offer letter, but failed to fulfil the promise till date.

According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravened Sections 516A (1), 418, 390 (8) (c) (d), 324 of the Criminal Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2004.

When the matter came up on November 26, 2024, the defendant, Olusanya was present in court.

The prosecutor prayed the court to withdraw the former three-count charge in suit number FHC/L/261C/2024 and replace it with a four-count charge.

His prayer was granted by the court, which ordered that the amended charge be read to the defendants.

The first defendant, Olusanya, pleaded not guilty for himself and his company.

As a result, the prosecutor urged the court to give a trial date given the not guilty plea.

However, counsel to the defendants, Agboola Adeleke (SAN), urged the court to allow his client to sustain the former bail granted him.

The court granted his request and subsequently adjourned the trial till February 10, 2025.