Egbegbe (left) and his co -accused in handcuff

Akin Kuponiyi

There is no reprieve yet for Nollywood Film marketer,  Seun Egbegbe, and his co-accused , Oyekan Ayomide,  alleged to have defrauded some Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators of multi -million naira, as a Federal high court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday refused to hear their bail application.

Consequently, the presiding Judge, Oluremi Oguntoyinbo,  extended their remand order till next week Tuesday, when their bail application will be entertained.

Olajide Oluwaseun Karrem, popularly known as Seun Egbegbe, and his co-accused Oyekan Ayomide were arraigned before the court last Friday by men of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba, on 36 counts charge of conspiracy and fraud.

At the resumed hearing of the accused persons bail application today, their lawyer, Miss. A. O. Gbadamoshi, told the court that she started the process of filling their applications last Friday, and that she succeeded in completing the filing processes on Tuesday, and served the applications at the police office on Tuesday.

She also informed the court that she called the prosecutor, Mr. Innocent Anyigor, that she had served his office.

In response, the police prosecutor, Mr. Anyigor, informed the court that he was unable to file a counter to the applications, as he was only given the accused applications bail in the office on Wednesday morning.

He told the court that he will need time to study the contents of the applications  before filing any response.

Consequently Mr. Anyigor urged the court to grant him adjournment to enable him reply to the accused persons’ bail applications.

Thereafter, Justice Oguntoyinbo, while adjourning till 21st of February, 2017 for the hearing of the bail applications, ordered that the two accused should be taken back to prison.

Police in the charge marked FHC/L/40c/2017, filed before the court  by the SCIID’s head of legal department, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the two accused, had between 2016 and February 2, 2017, were alleged to have defrauded the BDC Operators at various places in Lagos State to the tune of N40.647 million; $29, 800,00 USD; and £4, 815 United Kingdom Pounds Sterling

The offences alleged to have been committed by the two accused persons , are contrary to sections 8 and 1(1)(a)(B)(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and  Other Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under section 1(1) of the same Act.

Among the BDC operators allegedly defrauded by the two accused  includes:Issa Adamu, Mohammed Sanni, Jubril Ado, Hassan Amodu, Bala Mohammed, Sanni Hassan, Abdullahi Mumuni, Suraju Garuba, Mutairu Shuaibu, Sanusi Muhammad, Kabiru Jubril.

Others are: Barowo Abdullahi, Yahu, Abubakar Musa, Abdullahi Babatunde, Nasir Musa, Umaru Haruna, Umaru Sanni, Mohammed Bello, Mohammed Alli, Abdulrazaq Sanni, Tairu Musa, Sulaiman Sheu, Amadu Abda and Dauda Ibrahim.

Count one of the charge against the two alleged fraudsters reads: “that you Olajide Oluwaseun Karrem and Oyekan ayomide, on or about 2nd February, 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court by false pretence and with intent to defraud conspired among yourselves to obtain the sum of N2. 450, 000 million; £3000 Pounds Sterling from one Alhaji Isa Adamu, and therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences, and punishable under the same Act.

The two accused pleaded not guilty to all the  counts charge.

Upon their not-guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Innocent Anyigor,urged the court to remand them in Prison’s custody pending trial.

Justice Oguntoyinbo,then, ordered that the two accused persons should be remanded in Prison custody,and adjourned till March 10,  for trial to commence.