Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan Division, on August 19, ordered the remand of a defendant, Yusuf Ademola Oyepeju, in Agodi Correctional Centre, for using his two companies to defraud a Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian Islamic cleric, Fasasi Amidu Bayonle.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a statement on Wednesday, said the suspect alongside his companies, Alwajeez International Nigeria Limited and AIN Homes and Property Limited, were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on forgery, altering of documents, stealing by conversion and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of over N13,697,900.

According to the statement, the charges alleged that the defendant defrauded the cleric of his money and property after the duo met on a Muslim Whatsapp group created for spreading Islamic teachings.

They were both tutors on the platform.

One of the counts read, “That you, Yusuf Ademola Oyepeju, Alwajeez International Nigeria Limited and AIN Homes And Properties Limited between February and August, 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own personal use, the sum of N8, 697, 900.00  (Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-seven Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira),  property of one Fasasi Amidu Bayonle, thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Section 390(9) Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, to pray the court to fix a date for commencement of trial and requesting his remand in a correctional facility.

Counsel to the defendant, B. Ajibola, who informed the court that an application for bail had been filed and served on the prosecution, prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the matter for hearing of bail application and remanded the defendant in Agodi Correctional Centre.

The EFCC said Mr Oyepeju’s journey to the correctional centre began in 2018, when he allegedly sought for financial assistance from Mr Bayonle to secure an accommodation for him and his newly married wife in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr Bayonle, in turn, promised to raise some money for the accommodation but offered Mr Oyepeju the temporary use of the house he used to live at No. 3, Road 7, Ikumapayi area of Olodo, in Ibadan, before relocating to Dubai, while he raised the money.

“The defendant who had also presented himself to his victim as a property developer, took possession of the property and further convinced Bayonle to send money to him, so he could help him purchase land and build another house for him in Ibadan and without doubt, Bayonle sent the sum of N8,697,900.00 (Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-seven Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira) to the defendant to purchase and develop the land.

“Few months later, it was discovered that the defendant allegedly forged a document of “Transfer of Agreement” between him and his victim, sold the house he was occupying temporarily to his fictitious companies and converted the proceeds for his personal use. Also, investigations revealed that the defendant regened on his promise of purchasing land and developing it on behalf of the victim, having received the money.”