A Lagos Federal High Court, on Wednesday, struck out a fraud
charge against a former Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Mrs. Sinatu Ojikutu.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, terminated the
case as he delivered his ruling on an application by the state Police to
withdraw the charges against her.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, who moved the
application on behalf of the police, did not give any reason for the
withdrawal.
However, the former deputy governor’s arraignment had been
stalled twice in February due to her proposal to settle with the victim of her
alleged fraud out of court.
Mrs. Ojikutu and his son, Sampson, were declared wanted by
the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police last year over their alleged
involvement in obtaining money under false pretense from one Cajetan Okekearu
in September 2011.
They were said to have collected a sum of N130 million from him purportedly for a plot of land at Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island,
Lagos.
But the complainant later discovered that their
claim of ownership was false, since there was an already existing title to the
land.
When the police eventually arrested Mrs. Ojikutu, she was charged
with three counts of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
The offences were said to contravene the provisions of
sections 1(a) (iii), and 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud
Related Offences Act, Cap. A6, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
She was also said to have contravened the provisions of
section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Vol. 10, Laws of the
Federation, 2010.
0 comments:
Post a Comment