A 73-year-old visually-impaired man, Murtala Adebayo, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, over allegations of defrauding a complainant of N19 million.

Adebayo, who initially stood trial before Justice Mojisola Dada, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretense.

The prosecution alleged that between 2015 and 2019, Adebayo fraudulently obtained N4.5 million from Mr Gafar Ademolake, falsely claiming it was payment for three plots of land in Ogombo Ajah, Lagos. He is also accused of collecting N5.5 million for 18 plots of land in Ayogbemi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, and two Toyota Camry cars and a Honda Accord valued at N9 million, all under false pretenses.

The charges contravene Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Adebayo’s counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, requested the court to uphold the bail conditions previously granted by Justice Dada.

Prosecution counsel Sa’adatu Yabo did not oppose the application but raised concerns about the authenticity of documents used to secure the earlier bail.

Justice Oshodi, after reviewing the bail bond, granted Adebayo bail under the same conditions set by Justice Dada on February 12, 2024. The court also mandated that the surety enroll in the surety registration management system.

The case has been adjourned to March 7, 2025, for trial.