By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE &  CHIDIMMA OKEREAFOR
LAGOS—A 51-year-old man, Arthur Onyejekire, who was accused of obtaining N4 million from one Fabian Obi by false pretences, has been dragged before a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Onyejekire was accused of collecting the money on different occasions by falsely representing to the victim (Obi) that the money was the cost of obtaining a deed of assignment from Ojomu family in respect of two plots of land at Lekki.

The 1st charge reads: “Arthur Onyejekire on or about the 16th day of March 2009 at Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand naira only) from one Fabian Obi by falsely representing to him that the said sum represented the cost of obtaining a deed of assignment from the Ojomu family in respect of two plots of land at Lekki belonging to one Fabian Obi.”

He (accused) was also said to have on the 3rd day of April 2009 at Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N2,000,000 (two million naira only) from Fabian Obi and later obtained another N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira only) falsely representing to him that the said sum represented the cost of obtaining a deed of assignment from the Ojomu family in respect of two plots of land.

Onyejekire (accused) was arraigned on a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, offences contrary to sections 1 (1) (a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14 2006; but pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Trial judge, Justice Candide-Johnson, adjourned the case till November 28, 2011 for mention.

Meanwhile, in a different development, a N50 million suit has been filed against the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and a private firm, Toll System Development Company Limited, at a Lagos State High Court, by people of Fowoseje in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, for allegedly depriving them of their land measuring about 29.51 hectares.

Plaintiff in the suit (Fowoseje Villagers) sought the court to direct the Lagos State Governor to revoke a Certificate of Occupancy granted in favour of Toll System, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further interfering with the possession of their land in Fowoseje village.

Leading the villagers, Prince Nojeem Fatai Ojomu, informed the court that the state governor illegally appropriated their land to Toll System, a subsidiary of A.R.M Investment Company Limited vide a Certificate of Occupancy registered as No 17 at page 17 in volume 2003T of October 27, 2003, without seeking the consent of the owners of the land.

According to the villagers, A.R.M Investment is an organization owned by some highly placed persons in the society. They (Fowoseje Villagers) held that basic objective of the taking over of their land was to offer same foe sale at high prices to the buyers. Hence, the villagers urged the court to declare that such practice is against the spirit and letter of the Land Use Act.

Counsel to the villagers, Abu Steve, told the court that the said Certificate of Occupancy granted on the their land by the State governor to Toll System, was done without the owners consent nor approval. He said that the people of Fowoseje in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State were the customary owners of the said land, saying “at no time were they divested of their title to land, being their ancestral home.”

The court was further informed that on On October 19, 2010 one Superintendent of Police, M. Abdul-Kareem alleged to have come from the Lagos State office came to Fowoseje village with about 70 trucks of Hilux-Vehicles marked with Physical Planning and Urban Development with 2 Caterpillars and Cranes, to demolish buildings, properties and others.

In Steve’s word: “On October 19, 2010, the said Toll System with the powerful connection and instrumentality of A.R.M Investment entered into Fowoseje village and bulldoze their buildings/properties, traditional enclaves and economic tree” Steve said.