A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of Bamishe Ajetunmobi, a Ponzi Scheme Operator, who has been on the run since 2021, over alleged N7.5 billion fraud.
Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke, remanded the Ponzi Scheme Operator after he pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of charge made against him by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID (Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Arraigning the defendant, the prosecution counsel Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer in the ForceCIID, annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, told the defendant conspired with his wife, Elizabeth Ajetunmobi, who is now at large, and their company, Imaging Global Solutions Limited, committed the offenses something in February 2021.
Animashaun told the court that the defendant and his wife had lured the fraud victims with 10 percent returns on investment (ROI), to commit the offenses.
Among those allegedly defrauded by the defendant and the sums received from them includes: Mr. Olawale Lawal, N1.5 billion; Mrs. Kate Omu, N500 million, Mr. Erhi Catherine Ojoboh, N2 billion, and Mr. Abioye Idris, N3.5 billion.
The prosecutor told the court that the offenses committed by the defendant contravened sections 8 (a), 1(a)(c), and 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and were punishable under Section I (3) of the same Act.
He also told the court that the offenses are contrary to section 383 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 390 (a) of the same.
Before his arraignment, the prosecutor told the charge against the defendant was filed in 2022, and that when the defendant came elusive, the police secured a warrant of arrest from the court.
He told the court that the defendant was however arrested by International Police (Interpol) in Ivory Coast, this year.
Animashaun, by oral application, urged the court to strike out the name of the defendant’s wife from the charge, so that the defendant’s arraignment can go on.
Following the submission made by the prosecutor, Justice Aneke struck out the name of the defendant’s wife from the charge and ordered that the charge be ready for the defendant.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the 12 counts charge, when they were read to him.
The defendant was not represented by any lawyer.
Following the defendant’s not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date. He also urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against him.
Consequently, Justice Aneke ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Services Centre, Ikoyi, and adjourned the case to November 29, for trial.
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