₦582m Fraud Case: Judge Threatens Bench Warrant Against Ex-NNPCL Cooperative President

ABUJA — Justice Lesley Wike of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed November 23 for the arraignment of Mr Olalekan Ogunbayo, a former President of the NNPCL Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society in Abuja, over an alleged ₦582 million fraud.

The judge issued the warning on Monday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) complained about Ogunbayo’s absence from court for the scheduled arraignment on an eight-count charge.

The court cautioned that a bench warrant could be issued against the former cooperative society president if he failed to attend the next sitting to take his plea.

During the proceedings, EFCC counsel, R. U. Adagba, informed the court that Ogunbayo was absent, while the second defendant, Abolade Nurudeen, was present.

Adagba alleged that the first defendant had failed to appear in court for the third time despite being aware of the case. He also claimed that Ogunbayo had jumped the administrative bail granted to him by the anti-graft agency.

The prosecution lawyer said attempts to locate Ogunbayo and serve him with the charge had proved unsuccessful.

He subsequently asked the court to issue a bench warrant to empower security agencies to arrest the defendant and bring him before the court, citing Sections 35, 113 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Opposing the request, defence counsel, Mr Innocent Adoo, accused the EFCC of failing to properly serve the charge on his client.

Adoo argued that the defendant could not be arraigned without being formally served with the allegations against him. He maintained that proper service was necessary to ensure that Ogunbayo understood the charges and had sufficient time to prepare his defence.

He further submitted that the requirement for service could not be waived by any party.

The defence lawyer said Ogunbayo remained on administrative bail and was not aware that the matter had been scheduled for arraignment.

According to Adoo, the defence had used the information available to contact the defendant, who was said to be in Warri, Delta State, but was unable to obtain a flight to Abuja for the proceedings.

He urged the court to grant an adjournment to enable both defendants to appear and enter their pleas.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Wike held that an adjournment was necessary in the interest of justice to give Ogunbayo an opportunity to appear for arraignment.

The judge, however, warned that the court would take appropriate action if the defendant failed to attend the next hearing on November 23.

The defendants are facing an eight-count charge involving allegations of criminal misappropriation, abuse of office, corrupt practices and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the prosecution, the case arose from the sale of the cooperative society’s property located at Plot 50, Karsana North, Abuja. The defendants were alleged to have conspired in January 2024 to divert proceeds from the transaction.

One of the counts accused the defendants of dishonestly misappropriating ₦582 million generated from the sale.

Ogunbayo was separately accused of receiving ₦100 million, ₦10 million and ₦50 million through different bank accounts in connection with the transaction.

The prosecution also alleged that ₦180 million was paid into an account belonging to Ogunbayo’s firm after he represented that the property had been sold for ₦1 billion.

In addition, both defendants were accused of involvement in an alleged ₦160 million corrupt transaction.

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