IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu
A 46-year-old man, Iyanda Sulaiman Adewale, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over an alleged N15 million land fraud involving the purported sale of two acres of land in Ogun State.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Friday Ogazi, by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, in a 10-count criminal charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery and uttering of forged documents, in the charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/982/2026.
The defendant, according to the prosecutor, Achi Caleb, allegedly conspired with the trio of as Mrs Linda Asayan, Kayode Idowu and Abiodun Idowu, alongside others said to be at large, to defraud one Mr Adekeye Monsuru of N15 million, on or about May 31, 2024, in Lagos.
The prosecutor had informed the court that the defendant and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained the money from Adekeye Monsuru under the false pretence that they were selling to him two acres of land situated at Makun Olorunda Area, via Atan Ota, Ogun State.
The defendant was also alleged to have taking possession and control of the N15 million, allegedly being proceeds of an unlawful transaction, and converting or transferring the funds to himself or other persons.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant and other now at large, forged a Deed of Assignment, which was used in inducing the complainant to part with the N15 million.
The defendant’s alleged crimes, the prosecutor said contravened Sections 21(a), 18(2) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; Section 1(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006
The offences are also contrary to 3(6) and punishable ander Section 1(2(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M1 Laws Of The Federation Of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant has however denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the 10 count charges.
Based on the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for the trial date, while also prayed the for a remand order pending the determination of the charge.
Justice Ogazi after hearing that the bail application has just been filed and served on the prosecutor, adjourned the matter to November 23, for hearing of the bail application, while ordered defendant’s remand at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the determination of the bail application.
Counts one and 10 of the charges read: “that you, yanda Sulaiman Adewale, on or about the 31st day of May, 2024 at Lagos, trial-able within the Lagos Federal High Court Judicial Division, conspired with One Mrs. Linda Asayan ‘f’, Kayode Idowu ‘m’, Abiodun Idowu ‘m’, others at large, to commit a felony to wit; takes possession or control of proceeds of crime, to the sum of about Fifteen Million Naira N15, 000, 000. 00K) Only, property of One Mr Adekeye Monsuru ‘m’; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering [Prevention and Prohibition] Act, 2022.
“That you, Iyanda Sulaiman Adewale, and Mrs. Linda Asayan, ‘f’, Kayode idowu ‘m’, Abiodun idowu ‘m’, others at large on or about the 31st day of May 2024 at Lagos, triable within the Lagos Judicial division of the Federal High Court, did uttered and forged a Deed of assignment, with intent that it may be acted upon by One Mr, Adekeye Monsuru ‘m’ for sales of two (2) acres of land to him, situated at Makun Olorunda Area, via Atan Ota, Ogun State, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M 17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”