A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, has issues an arrest against a 49 year-old self acclaimed property developer, Abiola Afolabi Sarafadeen, for his failure to appear before the court to face his trial on charges of fraud and stealing made against him by the police.
The defendant was arraigned before the court presided over Chief Magistrate Ademola Olatunbosun in a charge marked A/124/2023, on September 20, 2023, on charges of obtaining by false pretence and stealing of the sum of N8.4 million.
He was alleged to have fraudulently obtained the money from one Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi, with the pretence of building three units of bedroom flat.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Rita Momah, a Superintendent of Police, contravene sections 314 and 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015, and punishable under the same Laws.
He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his not guilty plea, he was granted bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun also ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years tax payment.
However, since the defendant has been granted bail, he has failed and refused to appear in court to face his trial.
Following his continue refusal to appear in court, the prosecutor, Supol Momah, when the matter came up recently, informed the court that the defendant has flagrantly refused to appear before the court for trial.
She consequently, asked the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendant.
Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun, after listening to the prosecutor and upon perusal of the court’s record, acceded to the prosecutor’s request and held that: “the defendant is placed on bench warrant and surety to show cause.”
Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned to April 10, for mention.
The charges against the self-acclaimed developer read: “That you Abiola Afolabi Sharafadeen ‘m’ on 22nd March, 2021 in the ajos Magisterial District did obtain the sum of N8,400,000 (Eight Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi ‘f’ under the pretence that you are going to build three units of Bedroom flat knowing same to be false and thereby committed en offence punishable under Section 314 of Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015.
“That you Abiola Afolabi Sharafadeen ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did steal the sum of N8,400,000 (Eight Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira) property of Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi’ ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
