BY Joseph Saater Undu

Police detectives have foiled plans by 90-year old man, Pa Adeola Ajidahun who is facing trial at Igbosere Magistrate’s court alongside a Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Fullers Field Parish in Ajah area of Lagos over Lekki Land re-settlement fraud in Eti-Osa , Lagos to go on self-exile in an attempt to escape trial.

Pa Ajidahun was said to have sold his house at 89 Karimu street in Egbeda for N40m and moved his property to a rented apartment at Gbolahan  Bakare street in Magodo area of Lagos but his bank account was reportedly frozen.

IGP-Idris

Saturday Vanguard gathered that, when he went to the bank to withdraw the money to travel, the bank management informed him that he would not withdraw any money paid in the account as the account had been frozen by the police.

An Ijero, Ekiti State-born Pa Ajidahun protested in the open court and said he was tired of the trial and seeks the release of his International passport seized by the police but his request was however turned down by the police who informed him that he would get his passport after the conclusion of the trial.

After the sitting, he started making arrangement to travel, unknown to him, the police were monitoring him.

They were charged before the court and were remanded in Ikoyi prisons but later released on bail to stand trial.

Their trial followed a petition to the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, by a complainant, Kehinde Ola over the scam. Pastor Fadare allegedly conspired with Ajidahun and allegedly defrauded Kehinde Ola to the tune of N30 million under false pretence of selling some plots of land at the same re-settlement in Lagos.

During investigation, the police also discovered that the suspect had allegedly swindled many other victims and was allegedly using Pastor Fadare as estate agent to defraud victims.

Our correspondent gathered that one Tony Okocha was also duped to the tune of N10 million in the scam.

The complainant was said to have paid N30 million to Ajidahun after he showed him some documents indicating that he acquired the land from the state government.

Trouble started when a family in the area challenged Ola’s ownership of the land and reclaimed the land from him after it was discovered the land did not belong to the suspects.

They pleaded not guilty.

Both Ajidahun and Fadare were granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 and N5 million with two sureties in like sum respectively.

They were remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

The matter was initially before the presiding Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Awogboro and has suffered several adjournments before the last adjournment where Ajidahun demanded his passport.

The matter was subsequently transferred to court three and subsequently adjourned for definite trial.