The Nigeria Police had arraigned Gbajabiamila before the court on June 20, 2022, for defrauding a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Lateef Adeyemo of the sum of N30 million and was said to have been using the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to defraud several persons and had been at large for months before he was arrested.
Gbajabiamila was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and false presentation, an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.
According to the charge, Gbajabiamila had presented himself as an estate agent last year, fraudulently collecting and converting to his own use, N30 million meant for purchasing a two-bedroom flat for Adeyemo, between September and October 2021.
When the case was called yesterday for hearing before Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun, both the plaintiff and defendant were not available in court. But after the plaintiff arrived, the Magistrate adjourned the case to August 22 for further hearing.
Speaking with The Guardian after the adjournment, one of the two men, Adesina Lukman, who had introduced the accused to Adeyemo, said he had vouched for Gbajabiamila after he had sold many apartments for his clients in different parts of Lagos.
“Because of his record and what I heard about him, I never bothered to ask for his house because he’s known to everyone. In fact, his name is a key to opening the doors in many estates.
“I never knew he could do this because he was a very trusted person. But when this happened, I asked if he had paid part of the money to buy the house and he started begging that he had disappointed me.”
The victim, Adeyemo, however, alleged that the accused had absconded. “He didn’t come to the court, he absconded, but I hope the police will bring him to court in the next hearing.”
Also, the police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Folorunso, alleged that the suspect once offered him N5 million to stop his arrest.
