Ademola Alakija's son And Daughter-in-law Charged By EFCC For Property Fraud In Lagos

ALABA Alakija, a father-in-law, and his daughter-in-law, Oyinkansola Alakija, were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja on an amended two-count charge pertaining to conspiracy and using false documents by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The allegations were related to an alleged event that happened on August 6, 2015, whereby they were accused of collaborating to obtain financial gain from a property located at No. 10 Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, by means of a fraudulent document called ‘Vesting Deed by Dr. Omodele Alakija and Mr. Afolabi Alakija.’

One of the counts reads: “Alaba Alakija and Oyinkansola Alakija, on the 6th day of August, 2015 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to financially benefit from the property located at No.10, Keffi Street, South-west, Ikoyl, Lagos, conspired amongst yourselves to use a false document titled: 'Vesting Deed by Dr. Omodele Alakija and Mr. Afolabi Alakija', the executors of the estate of the late Sir Ademola Alakija, purporting same to be made by Dr. Omodele Alakija and Mr. Afolabi Alakija.”

The two accused entered not guilty pleas to the allegations.

M.S. Owede, the prosecution's attorney, asked for a trial date as well as the defendants' confinement in a prison.

M.O. Akangbe, SAN, the first defendant's attorney, notified the court of a bail application his client had submitted and pleaded with it to grant generous bail.

However, the second defendant's attorney, Victor Giwa, attempted to move the bail application orally, claiming that his client was not in the court's jurisdiction and that he was only recently made aware of the situation.

Giwa said that his client, a lawyer, would not break the law because she was still breastfeeding her nine-month-old child, despite prior statements that the child was only two months old.

Following the arguments, Judge Dada granted N10 million in bail to the first defendant, along with sureties in an equivalent amount who had to produce their international passports to the court.

The passport belonging to the second defendant was kept by the judge. “Both defendants were to be released to their lawyers pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions,” said the court.

The trial was postponed until May 28.