A fleeing Ponzi scheme operator, Bamise Ajetunmobi, who has been on the run since 2021 after allegedly defrauding unsuspecting victims to the tune of N7.5 billion naira, has been arrested, arraigned, and remanded in prison custody.
The defendant was arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke.
Ajetunmobi was arraigned on a 12-count charge made against him by the men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID (Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer in the Force CIID, annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, told the court that the defendant conspired with his wife, Elizabeth, who is still at large, and their company, to lure victims with a fraudulent 10 percent return on investment.
Some of the victims were mentioned as Mr. Olawale Lawal from whom N1.5 billion was received, Mrs. Kate Omu from whom N500 million was received, Mr. Erhi Catherine Ojoboh from whom N2 billion was received, and Mr. Abioye Idris, from whom N3.5 billion was received.
Animashaun told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened sections 8 (a), 1(a)(c) and 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and were punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
He also told the court that the offences were contrary to section 383 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 390 (a) of the same.
Animashaun further stated that the charge against the defendant was filed in 2022, and when the defendant became elusive, the police secured a warrant of arrest from the court.
The defendant was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) in Cote D’Ivoire earlier this year.
Following an oral application by the police counsel, Justice Aneke struck out the name of the defendant’s wife from the charge, so the arraignment of Ajetunmobi could proceed.
Ajetunmobi, who was not represented by any lawyer in court, pleaded not guilty to the counts. Following the defendant’s not-guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date. He also urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against him.
Consequently, Justice Aneke ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Ikoyi, and adjourned the case till November 29, for trial.
