Lawyer change stalls trial of engineer facing N40m fraud

The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned the trial of one Adeleke Adebesin and his company, Kings Intercontinental Properties Nigeria Limited, to  March 24, 2025, over an alleged N40m fraud and issuance of dud cheques.

The adjournment followed the defendants’ decision to change their counsel.

When the matter came up on Monday, the Police Special Fraud Unit prosecutor, Mr Sylvester Azubuike, informed Justice Akintoye Aluko that the case was scheduled for trial and that the prosecution was ready to proceed.

However, the defence counsel, Mr. O.N. Onuoha, told the court that his client had informed him of the intention to change counsel just before the court proceedings began.

He requested an adjournment to formally withdraw from the case.

The new defence counsel, Mr. Prosper Ojapkovo, who announced his appearance for the defendants, did not oppose the adjournment request.

Justice Aluko subsequently granted the adjournment and fixed March 24, 2024, for the trial.

The defendant, Adeleke Adebesin, an engineer, alongside his company and a co-defendant, James Oladimeji Ogunsango —who is currently at large— was arraigned for allegedly defrauding a Lagos businessman, Mr Taiye Fajana, who is the Chairman of Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, of N40m in 2019.

According to the charges, Adebesin and his co-accused issued a Stanbic IBTC bank cheque dated October 30, 2019.

However, the cheques were dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds.

The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) and 1(a)(i) of the dishonoured cheques (Offences) Act, 2004.

The case was adjourned till March 2025, for trial.