In Abuja on Monday, a Federal High Court handed down an order for the temporary confinement of Mr. Suleiman Dabo, the former representative of Zaria Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending a ruling on his bail plea.
The directive from Justice James Omotosho came after the police formally charged Dabo with seven counts, accusing him of involvement in fraudulent activities totaling N30 million.
Dabo and Ohman International Venture Ltd. found themselves jointly arraigned as the 1st and 2nd defendants in the case with reference FHC/ABJ/CR/363/2021, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Count one alleges that the ex-lawmaker and his company, during October and November 2017, conspired to falsely obtain N30 million from Mrs. Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa.
In count two, Dabo and the company, sometime in October and November, 2017, were alleged to have defrauded Mrs Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa of the sum of N30 million through a GTBank Account No: 0172410075 with account name: Ohman International Venture Limited.
It alleged that the defendants had, on the pretence of selling a scrap vessel ship known as ADNAN 101, commited the act “when you presented yourself to Mrs Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa as the bonafide owner of the scrap ship.”
In count three, they were alleged to have converted the N30 million to themselves, the property derived directly from the proceeds of theft to conceal or disguise the illicit origin of the money.
The alleged transgressions are reportedly against Section 8 and are subject to penalties under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act LFN 2011, along with other relevant provisions.
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However, both individuals asserted their innocence by pleading not guilty to the seven charges.
Police counsel Mathew Omosun, in response to the accused’s plea of not guilty, requested the court to instruct his remand.
A.S. Egene, standing in for Dabo in court, contested Omosun’s application.
A.S. Egene pointed out that there is a bail application from Nov. 3, 2021, pending, although another from Nov. 3, 2023, is also currently before the court.
He sought to withdraw the Nov. 3, 2023 process and it was struck out.
The attorney, noting that a previous judge handling the case had granted bail to Dabo, implored the court to consider their plea with similar bail conditions.
Omosun raised objections to the application, citing the submission of a counter affidavit dated Sept. 8, 2022.
Examining the court file, Justice Omotosho observed that the ex-lawmaker had been absent from court on approximately eight occasions since he reassumed responsibility for the matter.
Egene appealed to the court, asking for leniency and a merciful application of justice.
‘As a lawmaker, he should know that the temple of justice must be respected,’ the judge responded.
The initial accusation posits that the former legislator and his enterprise colluded in October and November 2017 to deceptively secure N30 million from Mrs. Folashade S. Mojeolaoluwa.
As a result, he has scheduled the ruling on the bail application for February 5.