Police drag ex-Lagos deputy gov, son to court

Inability of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to produce former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu and her son, Sampson, charged with N130 million alleged fraud stalled their arraignment yesterday before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The former deputy governor, who was recently declared wanted by the police, was charged alongside her son, Sampson Ojikutu, on three-counts of conspiracy, fraud and stealing before the court.
The arraignment of the duo had been slated for yesterday but it was  stalled, due to their absence.
When the case was mentioned, the prosecutor, Mr Bukola Durojaiye, informed the court that the accused were absent due to the inability of the police to secure their arrest.
He added that SFU detectives were making frantic efforts to ensure that the accused were produced to stand trial over the offence.
The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case sine die (indefinitely), to enable the prosecution to put its house in order, and produce the accused for arraignment.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, consequently adjourned the case indefinitely.
“The application of prosecution is hereby granted, and the case is hereby adjourned sine die, to enable the prosecution to make necessary arrangement for the arraignment of the accused,” Yunusa ruled.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence in September 2011. Both Alhaja Ojikutu and her son, Samson were alleged to have fraudulently obtained N130 million from one Cajetan Okekearu under the pretence that they possessed a plot of land to sell at Lekki phase 1, Victoria Island Lagos. She has since denied any fraudulent intention in the transaction.
It was further alleged that the accused obtained the said sum of money from the complainant, who later discovered that their claim of ownership of the land was false, as there was an already existing title to the land.
The offences are 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.
The offence also contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Vol. 10, Laws of the Federation, 2010.