EBUN-OLU
ADEGBORUWA & CO.
Barristers, Solicitors, Consultants
‘Kogun
Chambers, Jesus
Arena Tel: 08100000758, 08100000759
Itedo Road,
Off Admiralty Way,
Lagos 08033016673, 08033246500
Lekki
Peninsular Scheme 1, Lekki, Lagos
PRESS RELEASE
FRN V ADEGBORUWA
“WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THIS CASE IS IN COURT”
EFCC WITNESS TELLS COURT
Trial commenced
today, June 13, 2016, the case criminal charge filed against Lagos lawyer and
human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, by the EFCC for allegedly dealing
in property forfeited to the federal government through an interim order of
court.
At the hearing
today, Mr. I.A. Mohammed represented the EFCC for the prosecution, whilst Mr
Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, led a pack of lawyers, including Chief Richard Oma
Ahonarugo, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbebor, Yinka Olajuwon, John Aga, Uyi Obayagbona, Charles
Ebhomwan, Mrs. O. Adegboruwa, Mrs B. Lawrence, etc, for the defence.
When the case
was first called, there was no appearance for the EFCC whereupon the case was
stood down for fifteen minutes. When the case was called, EFCC produced its
first prosecution witness, Mr. Godwin Adams. The witness mounted the witness
box and stated that he was an engineer by profession but also deals in estate
management. He stated that his client, Shelf Drilling Nigeria Limited, needed
an apartment at Nicon Town Estate, Lekki and he and other agents located a five
bedroom apartment belonging to Mr Jonathan Udeagbala. The met with Mrs Sylva
Udeagbala, his wife, who told them that his husband was in custody because he
had a case with the EFCC. The property was negotiated for the sum of ten
million naira per anum for five years.
The company
later became reluctant to deal until Mrs Udeagbala took the agents to their
lawyer, Mr Adegboruwa in his chambers in Lekki. Mr Adegboruwa disclosed to them
that there is a pending criminal case with the EFCC between two friends and
they have all agreed to rent out the property in order to raise money to settle
the matter with the EFCC. The company then paid into the account of Mr
Adegboruwa on behalf of his client, Mr. Udeagbala, and then took possession of
the property. It was later on that the EFCC stormed the house claiming that the
property was encumbered due to a forfeiture order by the court.
The company
then contacted Mr Adegboruwa and they all proceeded to the EFCC to verify the
true facts only for them to be arrested and detained. It was in custody that
they learnt of the interim order of forfeiture. But it later transpired that Mr
Adegboruwa had executed the instructions of his client to pay N35m out of the
lease sum to the complainant in settlement of the pending case and Mr Okafor
the complainant then signed an oath to withdraw the case from the EFCC and the
case was withdrawn. Mr Adegboruwa did not claim that he owned the property and
he did not inform the company that there was any order of forfeiture on the
property.
When the EFCC
prosecutor asked the witness if he had anything to tell the court, the witness
said: “This matter had been settled and we want this case closed. I
am surprised to be asked to appear in court in this case.”
Under
cross-examination by Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Mr Adams said that there was no way
for the company to know that there was any forfeiture order on the property as
Mrs Udeagbala and her family were living in the property at the time of
negotiation and there was no sign or notice fixed on any part of the property
by the EFCC to inform the public. He stated further that he was aware that the
title to the property was deposited with Nicon Town Management Company and he
visited the said company and there was no indication that the property was
under forfeiture. He said he knew that Mr Adegboruwa did not parade himself as
the owner of the property but rather it was the owner, Mr Udeagbala, that
leased out the property. He confirmed that he was aware that Mr Adegboruwa paid
out the money paid into his account by the company to the parties for
settlement and the case has since been settled.
The case was
then adjourned to Tuesday, June 14, 2016, for further cross examination
and further hearing.
Mr Adegboruwa is
being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly obtaining dealing in property
forfeited to the federal government, but he has protested vehemently that he is
being persecuted by the EFCC on account of his human rights cases against the
Buhari administration and in particular, his representation of Government
Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Mr Azibaola Robert, cousin to the former
President, Goodluck Jonathan. Mr Adegboruwa insisted that the main criminal
charge had been dismissed by the High Court of Lagos State in December, 2015,
and the EFCC cannot validly prosecute him upon an interim order in a case that
has been dismissed.
Thank you.
SIGNED:
Adegboruwa And Company,
Lekki, Lagos.
13-06-2016
Life without Christ
is crisis
Sent from my iPhone
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