Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has refused to admit one Kolawole Adedayo Erinle, who is facing trial over an alleged $1.4m fraud, to bail.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Erinle, disclosed this in a statement.
Erinle and his company, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $1.41 million.
The defendant is alleged to have defrauded the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, KCUMB, in the United States of about $1,412,509.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The defendant was previously arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on March 11, 2022, and was afterwards granted bail in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a landowner within the jurisdiction of the court and the other a Level 16 civil servant, with three years tax evidence.
However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Taiwo.
The case was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Oshodi, and it began de novo on October 28, 2022.
During the proceedings on February 10, 2023, the prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, informed the court that investigations into the sureties and documents provided, as part of the submission to fulfil the bail conditions earlier granted the defendant, were not met.
He also told the court that the defendant, in spite of this, was not in custody.
Banjo further informed the court that the land registry failed to authenticate the land documents submitted for the bail.
The sureties, he said, were also not forthcoming.
Since the issues could not be resolved before the retirement of Justice Taiwo, the prosecution subsequently applied to the court to revoke the bail being enjoyed by the defendant.
After listening to the submissions of the prosecution and going through the documents presented, Justice Oshodi revoked the bail of the defendant and expressed surprise that the defendant was released from custody when his bail documentation was not fully perfected.
Following the development, counsel for the defendant, Lawal Pedro, SAN, on April 3, 2023, again, made a fresh move for the bail of his client, which received strong opposition from the prosecution.
Ruling on the application Tuesday, April 4, Justice Oshodi held that the documents before the court showed that retired Justice Taiwo, who earlier granted him bail, never approved of the two sureties that the defendant presented.
Justice Oshodi also held that “I must also consider the probability that the defendant may not surrender himself for trial owing to the fact that the defendant had a previous criminal record.
“Bail is, therefore, denied, and accelerated hearing is ordered.”
The case was adjourned till May 15 and 16, 2023 for continuation of trial.
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