I Don’t know Him From Adam, Says Lawyer Duped Of 2.5M In Osun

By Taofik Jimoh, Osogbo

An Osogbo based legal practitioner, Barrister Popoola Samuel Oluranti on Wednesday, said he had not met Mr. Fakeye Saheed ever in his life before he allegedly duped him to the tune of N2,500,000.00, sometimes in October, 2020.

Saheed has been dragged before Chief Magistrate O.A Daramola of Osun State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo over alleged fraud, and issuance of dishonoured cheque.

Police Prosecutor, ASP Fagboyinbo Abiodun had told the court that the accused committed the offence sometimes in the month of October, 2020 at 12: 00pm at Atinuke Oyawaye Street, Dada Estate, Osogbo.

Fagboyinbo further explained that the accused allegedly duped the barrister Oluranti by fraudulently obtained a sum of 2.5 million naira with the pretence of paying within the short period of time which he failed to do so.

The accused according the prosecutor allegedly issued a dishonoured cheque of the Access Bank. He was said to have issued the cheque on October 15, 2020 payable on October 15, 2021.

He said that the suspect had committed offence contrary to and punishable under Section 421 and 429 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

But the accused pleaded not guilty to allegations slammed against him.

Ruling on the matter, Magistrate Daramola granted the accused bail in the sum of 1 million naira with two sureties in the like sum.

The case has adjourned to 18th of January, 2022.

Speaking with our correspondent, Barrister Popoola said the accused abused his goodwill and open mindedness, saying he didn’t know the suspect from Adam prior to the time he allegedly duped him to the tune of 2.5 Million Naira.

“He (Mr. Fakeye Saheed) said someone duped him of 14 Million Naira. He said he contacted the Police and State CID that helped him collect 4 Million out of 14 Million. That was the story he told me. He said out of the 4 Million the Police released 2 Million to him. The balance of 2 Million was not released to him. He now contacted lawyer Kazeem Badmus. That lawyer is now dead. He died sometimes last year. That lawyer petitioned the state CID of Zone 11 for the balance of 2 Million.

“He came to me that there was a time I was passing by when the late lawyer saw me and recommended me for him. He said that’s why he approached him. He wanted me to continue the case. I told him to go and retrieve the last letter the lawyer wrote on the case. (But) he said he could not find the letter as the late lawyer’s office at Ayegbaju Market had been sealed.

“He now came back with another dimension that he wanted to do something in Lagos that will gulp 4.5 Million, that had he been able to retrieve the 4 Million Naira from the Police he ought not have had any problems releasing money for it. That if I was able to assist him with the 4.5 Million, he would be very grateful.

“I told you I didn’t know him. After this time he kept on coming and calling me. At a time I told him to go and get a surety. The person (he brought) said he couldn’t stand for him. He now said he had nobody except his wife. After a lot of things I told him to bring her. He told me they (he and his wife) are both signatories to this account (Access Bank account name The Visit Avenue Nigeria Limited with the number 0093336012).

“I now transferred to this account under the agreement that he would be paying 150,000 monthly as interest for a year. I gave that money on the 15th of October, 2020. That’s he wrote this post dated cheque to be collected on the 15th of October, 2021. He wrote it in 2020. I just use it as security for my money.

“Immediately he collected the money. He was no longer picking my calls again and he didn’t pay interest.

The lawyer said after Mr. Fakeye become incommunicado and he failed to get his address given as Number 8, Abekoko Area, Ori Oke Pure Water, Ogo Oluwa for two months. Fate subsequently smiled on him as he got the wind of the man’s wife simply named Halima in Moye Area where she attended weekly Juma’at service.

“It was the wife we arrested. He (Mr. Fakeye Saheed) lives in Lagos.”