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Aiteo Energy Resources Staff, Sanusi Muhammed, Others Face Criminal Charge Of Alleged N18m Land Fraud, Dud Cheques -By Paul Sanusi

Sanusi Muhammed

An oil and gas marketer, who is the Head of Sale at Aiteo Energy Ltd, Sanusi Muhammed and one Kamilu Bakare, also known as “Baba Dudu,” have been arraigned before Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) High Court of Lagos State, over criminal allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, issuance of dishonoured cheques, and forcible entry into another man’s land.

Sanusi and kamilu were arraigned on the alleged offences before Justice Abdul-Raheem Tejumade Muyideen by the operatives of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos in a charge marked  LD/25462C/2025.

The prosecutor, Mike Enejere Esq, at the  arrraignment of the two men, told the court that the defendants and others at large conspired among themselves to commit the alleged offences sometimes in 2016.

The prosecutor also told the court that the defendants by false pretence, represented themselves as the rightful owners of a plot of land measuring 1966.535, delineated in survey plan No. OLA/1632/BO17/2011/LA located at Ajakaye village in Sangotedo, Eti Osa LGA of Lagos State, and obtained the sum of N18 million from one Onyeka Egwudo of Hunds Oil Limited.

He further informed the court that the oil and gas marketer issued two Zenith Bank cheques with the numbers 00000475 dated October 27, 2017, and 00000476 dated November 13, 2017, valued at N7 million and N7,584 million respectively, totaling N14,584 million, to Onyeka Egwudo of Hunds Oil Ltd, and upon presented at the bank was returned and rejected for lack of funds.

He also added that the two men and other at large, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, enters on land measuring 1966.535, delineated in survey plan No. OLA/1632/B017/2011/LA located at Ajakaye village in Sangotedo, Eti Osa LGA of Lagos State, which is in actual and peaceful possession of one Onyeka Egwudo of Hunds Oil Ltd.

He told the court that the alleged acts of the two defendants, contravened sections 411, 314 (1}(a) and 52 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. And section 1(2)(b) and section 2 of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. 

The two defendants have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They have been equally admitted to bail in various terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, at the last hearing of the matter, the prosecutor presented his first witness in the matter, Mr. Onyeka Egwudo, who gave his evidence before the court.

However, the prosecutor could not conclude with the witness as there were some documents which he said were crucial to the matter that he wanted to tender. But the counsel to the defendants vehemently opposed the tendering of the documents on the ground that the documents were not part of the document mentioned by the witness when the trial began, and that the documents have not been served on the defendants counsels.

Justice Muyideen, after listening to the submissions of parties, adjourned the matter to October 14 and 15, for continuation of the trial. 

The judge admonished the prosecutor to get all the documents needed and include same as part of the documents in evidence, and also served same on the defendants counsels.

Charges against the defendants read: Count 1. Statement Of Offence: Conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Particulars Of The Offence: Sanusi Mohammed, Kamilu Bakare (aka Baba Dudu), and others still at large, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: Obtaining By False Pretence. You thereby committed an offence. 

“Count 2: Statement Of Offence: Obtaining Money Under False Pretence, Contrary to Section 314 (1}(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Particulars Of The Offence: Sanusi Mohammed, Kamilu Bakare (aka Baba Dudu), and others still at large, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by means of false pretence, represented yourselves as the rightful owners of a plot of land measuring 1966.535, delineated in survey plan No. OLA/1632/BO17/2011/LA located at Ajakaye village in Sangotedo, Eti Osa LGA of Lagos State, and obtained the sum of Eighteen Million Naira (N18,000,000) from one ONYEKA EGWUDO of Hunds Oil Ltd. A representation you knew to be false. You thereby committed an offence. 

“Count 3: Statement Of Offences Issuance of Dishonoured Cheques contrary to section 1(2)(b) and section 2 of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.  Particulars Of Offence: Sanusi Mohammed, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did issue to one ONYEKA EGWUDO of Hunds Oil Ltd, two Zenith Bank cheques Nos. 00000475 dated 27th October, 2017, and 00000476 dated 13th November, 2017 at the value of Seven Million Naira (N7,000,000) and Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty – four Thousand (N7,584,000) respectively, totaling the sum of Fourteen Million, Five Hundred and Eighty – four Thousand Naira (N14,584,000), which when presented for payment on their respective due dates were returned unpaid due to insufficient funds standing to the credit of your account, You thereby committed an offence. 

“Count 4 Statement Of Offences: Forcible Entry, contrary to section 52 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Particulars Of Offence; Sanusi Mohammed, Kamilu Bakare (aka Baba Dudu), and others still at large, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, enters on land measuring 1966.535, delineated in survey plan No. OLA/1632/B017/2011/LA located at Ajakaye village in Sangotedo, Eti Osa LGA of Lagos State, which is in actual and peaceful possession of one ONYEKA EGWUDO of Hunds Oil Ltd. You thereby committed an offence.”