The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 17, 2014 arraigned Chief Adekunle Ominikun Sobowale before Justice Kudirat Abike Jose of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, on a 5-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.

The defendant allegedly  defrauded one Mr Daniel Obiajuju Nwakanma Ekwevi of the sum of N10, 600,000.00 (Ten Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) when he fraudulently sold to him,  three  acres of land  located at Alahun village,  off  Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. According to Ekwevi, after he had paid for the property, he discovered that a new sign post had been mounted on it indicating that the property belongs to the Lagos State Government which had allocated it to traders of “Computer Village”. Ekwevi said that all efforts to get his money refunded by Sobowale proved abortive.
 When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
Count one of the charge reads, " Chief Adekunle Ominikun Sobowale on or about 20th March, 2012 at Ibeju Lekki, within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N9, 000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira) only as part payment from Mr. Daniel Obiajuju Nwakanma Ekwevi by falsely representing yourself as a person capable of selling to him three acres of land at Alahun Village, Off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju, Lekki, Lagos State.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecuting counsel, Ben Ubi asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.
But defence counsel, Johnson Adebola informed the court that he will file an application for bail.
 Justice Jose adjourned the matter till May 8, 12, and 13, 2014 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prison.

Media & Publicity
17th February, 2014