A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja
has sentenced one of its registrars, Oluronke Rosulu, to a jail term of 10
years for aiding an alleged serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, to scam a former
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.), of $330,000.
has sentenced one of its registrars, Oluronke Rosulu, to a jail term of 10
years for aiding an alleged serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, to scam a former
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.), of $330,000.
Rosulu had been implicated by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the case of Ajudua, who is being
tried for allegedly defrauding Bamayi of $8.3m between November 2004 and June
2005 while they were both serving terms at the Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the case of Ajudua, who is being
tried for allegedly defrauding Bamayi of $8.3m between November 2004 and June
2005 while they were both serving terms at the Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.
Ajudua was alleged to have
obtained the money from Bamaiyi under the false pretence that it represented
the professional fees requested by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to facilitate
Bamaiyi’s release from prison.
obtained the money from Bamaiyi under the false pretence that it represented
the professional fees requested by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to facilitate
Bamaiyi’s release from prison.
The EFCC also claimed that Ajudua
told Bamaiyi that $1m out of the sum would be given to Rosulu’s boss, Justice
Olubunmi Oyewole, before whom Bamaiyi was being tried.
told Bamaiyi that $1m out of the sum would be given to Rosulu’s boss, Justice
Olubunmi Oyewole, before whom Bamaiyi was being tried.
Ajudu allegedly told Bamaiyi that
Justice Oyewole needed the fund to settle the hospital bill of his father, who
was then admitted at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos.
Justice Oyewole needed the fund to settle the hospital bill of his father, who
was then admitted at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos.
Rosulu, whose trial had since been
separated from that of Ajudua, was convicted and jailed on Monday by Justice
Lateef Lawal-Akapo on two counts of conspiracy and obtaining of money by false
pretences.
separated from that of Ajudua, was convicted and jailed on Monday by Justice
Lateef Lawal-Akapo on two counts of conspiracy and obtaining of money by false
pretences.
In his verdict, Justice
Lawal-Akapo said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against
Rosulu beyond reasonable doubts.
Lawal-Akapo said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against
Rosulu beyond reasonable doubts.
The judge held that despite
denying any contact or meeting with Ajudua in Kirikiri prisons, the evidence
presented by the EFCC showed that Rosulu and Ajudua were co-conspirators.
denying any contact or meeting with Ajudua in Kirikiri prisons, the evidence
presented by the EFCC showed that Rosulu and Ajudua were co-conspirators.
Justice Lawal-Akapo said a
petition written by Ajudua, which the EFCC found in Rosulu’s house during a
search, showed that she had worked with Ajudua.
petition written by Ajudua, which the EFCC found in Rosulu’s house during a
search, showed that she had worked with Ajudua.
The judge dismissed the convict’s
claim that she never visited Kirikiri to collect any money from Bamaiyi, saying
Rosulu’s failure to account for her own whereabouts on the said dates, left him
with no other option but to believe the evidence given by the EFCC’s witness.
claim that she never visited Kirikiri to collect any money from Bamaiyi, saying
Rosulu’s failure to account for her own whereabouts on the said dates, left him
with no other option but to believe the evidence given by the EFCC’s witness.
The judge held, “I find the
accused guilty as charged.
accused guilty as charged.
“As a registrar of the court, the
accused should have been an image maker of the judiciary, but she acted to the
contrary. She has to swallow her bitter pill.
accused should have been an image maker of the judiciary, but she acted to the
contrary. She has to swallow her bitter pill.
“On count one, I sentence the
accused to 10 years imprisonment and on count two, I sentence the accused to 10
years imprisonment. Both sentences are to run concurrently.”
accused to 10 years imprisonment and on count two, I sentence the accused to 10
years imprisonment. Both sentences are to run concurrently.”
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