The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested Suleiman Gbajabiamila, an alleged criminal facing a two-count charge in court for stealing and false presentation (EFCC).
Gbajabiamila was arrested on Tuesday, January 31 for allegedly defrauding a Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, Lateef Adeyemo, of N30 million.
The 63-year-old was accused of posing as an estate agent sometime in 2021.
He deceitfully collected N30 million intended for the purchase of a two-bedroom apartment for Adeyemo, who lives in the United Kingdom, but instead diverted the funds for his own use.
The incident is said to have occurred between September and October of 2021.
Gbajabiamila, who had been on the run for several months, was apprehended and arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun.
The police arraigned him and revealed that Gbajabiamila had made some transactions with the money, most of which were between him and his wife.
According to the Guardian, the victim paid N150,000 to track Gbajabiamila, who did not turn on his phone until Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Authorities immediately tracked down and apprehended the suspect.
Gbajabiamila was first arraigned before the magistrate court on June 20, 2022, and his case was adjourned until July 25, 2022.
Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun remanded the suspect to the Ikoyi correctional facilities until January 2023 during one of his court sessions in October 2022, but he was reportedly released on the eve of Christmas in 2022.
During the resumption of court proceedings in the case on Tuesday, January 31, the defence counsel asked the magistrate to adjourn the case to a later date so that his client could settle with the aggrieved.
Defence counsel requests an adjournment and proposes a settlement.
The presiding Magistrate, Olatunbosun, accepted the plea and adjourned the case until April 5, 2023.
When asked what happened to the alleged N30 million, the 63-year-old suspect admitted to receiving the money but investing it in a bad investment that landed him in trouble.
He, on the other hand, stated that he is willing to settle out of court and that he is willing to spread the payment until he has paid off his debt.
Meanwhile, there was some drama as the suspect was about to leave the court in a vehicle.
According to the Guardian, Gbajabiamila’s vehicle was obstructed by EFCC agents, who ordered him to alight and whisked him away moments later.
Reacting to this development, the victim alleged that the suspect was acting cleverly to evade justice.
Adeyemo said:
“According to the last court pronouncement, he was supposed to be out of prison today (yesterday) for the hearing but he had been released in December 2022.
“He has been using the name and influence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.”
Fake Gbajabiamila in Lagos court for alleged multi-million naira fraud
Recall that Legit.ng reported that an alleged impersonator of the speaker of the house of representative, Femi Gbajabiamila has been nabbed and arraigned in court.
The alleged whose name is Suleiman Gbajabiamila was accused of duping a UK-based Nigerian of N30 million.
He has however pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge against him bordering on stealing and false presentation.