Four officials of the Land Bureau of the Lagos State government were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court over alleged conspiracy and stealing of N100 million belonging to the government.
Three of the officials, Iyabo Ogunde, Ahmed Kolawole and Yemisi Okewole were charged separately on a 17 count while Kehinde Kenku was arraigned on a three count charge. Another five count of stealing and conversion of government fund was preffered against Yemisi Okewole.
They were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe. Moment the charges were read to them they all pleaded not guilty.
While the trio of Iyabo Ogunde, Ahmed Kolawole, Yemisi Okewole are facing 17 count charge for alleged fraudulent transactions and stealing of government revenue to the tune of N87,078,000, Yemisi Okewole and Kehinde Kenku are facing two separate 5 count and 3 count charges respectively to the tune of N13,340,143.94.
Mr Femi Adamson who was prosecuting the case from the ministry of justice, Alausa said the offences committed by the defendants was contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17 Law of Lagos State 2003.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants whilst in the employment of the Lagos State Government at the Lands Bureau between July and December 2011 did conspire to commit felony to wit – stealing.
The charge read in part: “That you, Iyabo Ogunde ‘F’ whilst in the employment of the Lagos State Government, and one Sodiq ‘M’ now at large on or about the 1st of July, 2011 at the Lands Bureau, Ikeja, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District did steal the sum of N10,000,000 in the Oceanic Bank Draft No. 00001236 dated 1st of July, 2011 as evident in the forged Lagos State Revenue receipt No. 15370230 dated July, issued in favour of Messrs. Abiodun Doherty and Joseph Olufemi Williams and having converted the proceeds to your personal use thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 (1) and punishable under Section 390(6) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17 Law of Lagos State 2003.”
On Kehinde Kenku’s case, he was said to have forged a consent letter with reference No: 47532 dated 21st December, 2011, which ought to have been signed by the director of Land services.
The defendant on diverse date in 2011 was said to have stolen the sum of N393, 120, received from one Mr. Solomon for the procurement of Governor’s consent in respect of LU/GC/61399, and forged a receipt representing the deposit and payment of the said sum.
Adamson said the offences committed were contrary to Section 467, 383(3), 467 of the criminal code Law, Cap.C17, Vol.2, Law of Lagos State, 2003.
The court however granted them bail, while the matter was adjourned till January 28, 2014.
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