A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has fixed October 16 for the commencement of trial of a fugitive former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd., Olusegun Ogunbanjo, charged with N998 million stationeries fraud.
Ogunbanjo who has been on the run since November 2023, was arraigned on an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit obtaining under false pretence, obtaining under false pretence, stealing and forgery.
He was first arraigned on March 8, 2023 before a Chief Magistrate Court alongside Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Limited, Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Limited and Godwin Benson.
The police alleged that the defendant committed the offence between January 2017 and December 2022, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The defendant was alleged to have obtained N450m from one Olusola lkuyajesin and N500m from one Durodola Balogun under the pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.
He was also accused of forging the organisation’s Local Purchase Orders to carry out the acts.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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Following his not guilty plea, the state Counsel, Mrs Qawiat Shomade, prayed asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending the hearing and the determination of his bail application.
The Defence Counsel, Mr T.E. Okeke, however, informed the court that he was appearing for the first time in the matter and that he needed ample time to file the bail application.
Okeke pleaded with the court for a closer date for him to file and move the bail application on behalf of his client.
“My lord I plead for a closer date to tender an application to grant the defendant bail,” he said.
Justice Ismail Ijelu thereafter remanded the defendant in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
The judge told the defence that the court would have looked into the bail application if it was ready.
“If you had your application, the court would have looked into it but while we wait for it, the defendant should be remanded at the correctional facility,” he said.
The judge adjourned the case until Oct.16 for commencement of trial.
