Justice

Akin Kuponiyi

A Lagos Federal high court, today adjourned till  March 4, 2025,   when a board member of the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc. Dr Daphne Dafinone will be docked.

Dafinone was supposed to be broughtbefore the court today but he was absent.

In a two-count charge, Dafinone, alongside her company, CEDDI Corporation Ltd., faces charges related to an alleged N100 million fraud, as outlined in the charge n

The prosecutor Superintendent of Police Anthony Iyeye, was present, while Dapo Akinosun, SAN, appeared for the defence.

Akinosun informed the court that Dr. Dafinone, the first defendant, was in London receiving medical treatment, However, upon hearing about her absence, he advised her that she should not be in London when she was scheduled to appear in court, Adeosun also said he requested a video call to confirm her location and requested proof of her hospitalisation, which she provided in the form of a letter from her doctor. Additionally, Akinosun stated that Dr. Dafinone sent him a photocopy of her passport and travel stamps to confirm her overseas whereabouts.

He further told the court that he had previously given an undertaking to the court that Dr Dafinone would attend her arraignment.

He assured the court that she would return to Nigeria on January 28, 2025, and requested an adjournment for her arraignment.

The prosecutor did not raise any objection to the request.

Thereafter, the presiding. Judge, Justice Ibrahim Kala adjourned the case till, March 4, 2025, for Dr. Dafinone’s arraignment.

The charges arose from a petition filed by a Lagos businessman Prince Lukman Adeleke, a developer, against Dr. Dafinone, her company CEDDI Corporation Ltd., and other unidentified individuals.

The petitioner alleged that between April and December 2019, Dr. Dafinone and others conspired to defraud Adeleke of N100 million.

According to the petition, Adeleke’s company, Lukman Communications Ltd., had been in negotiations with CEDDI Corporation Ltd. for the sale of a property at 93 Broad Street, Lagos Island.

Despite ongoing negotiations and a payment of N100 million, Dr Dafinone was alleged to have proceeded with the sale of the same property to another party, Mrs Ganiyat Ulom.

Adeleke alleged that when he learned of the sale, he instructed his solicitors to issue a memorandum of claim to CEDDI Corporation Ltd. and Mrs Ulom.

However, both parties allegedly failed to respond, leading Adeleke to file a lawsuit in the High Court of Lagos State.