In a recent development, a businessman named Olaoluwa Oluwamide, along with his company, Ayomi Triumph Energy Ltd., were brought before a special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos. The charges against them, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleged that they defrauded Sterling Bank Plc of $39,554.
The charges specifically accuse Oluwamide and his company of dishonestly converting a mistaken transfer into their account.
Oluwamide, however, has pleaded not guilty to these allegations.
Nwandu Ukoha, the counsel for the EFCC, informed the court that the case was previously handled by the now-retired Justice Serifat Solebo.
Ukoha requested an expedited trial and set a date for it.
He also expressed his concerns about the defendant’s lawyer’s repeated absences from the proceedings and their attempts to delay the trial.
Ukoha further explained to the court that the money was erroneously transferred into the defendant’s account (number 0058212641) in September 2017, which Oluwamide then allegedly converted for his own use.
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According to Ukoha, this act is a violation of sections 278 (1)(b), 278 (2)(d), and 285 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.
The defence counsel, Olumuyiwa Balogun, arrived late to the proceedings but expressed his desire to continue representing the defendant.
In response to this, Justice Olubusola Okunuga questioned Balogun’s commitment to the case, to which Balogun affirmed his intention to represent Oluwamide.
Following these developments, Justice Okunuga decided to adjourn the trial until February 8, 2024.