A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, adjourned the trial of a fraud case involving 64-year-old Suleiman Gbajabiamila till February 8, 2024.
Gbajabiamila was first arraigned in 2022 on a two-count charge of defrauding one United Kingdom-based Lateef Adeyemo of N30 million, excluding other payments to buy an apartment.
According to the charge, Gbajabiamila presented himself as an estate agent in 2021, fraudulently collected and converted to his own use, the money meant to purchase a two-bedroom flat for Adeyemo between September and October 2021.
The suspect, who was said to have been at large for months, was first arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on charges bordering on stealing and false presentation, an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.
In October 2022, Olatunbosun remanded Gbajabiamila at Ikoyi Correctional Centre till January 2023, but he was released on December 24, 2022.
Yesterday, the case was adjourned again by Justice Ismail Ijelu because Gbajabiamila’s counsel didn’t appear.
Before adjourning, the judge warned that the 64-year-old would stand in the dock to defend himself if he fails to get a lawyer.
The victim, who was also in court, accused Gbajabiamila of playing pranks to evade justice.
“I never knew he was a thief. He made a fake draft when I asked him to return my money, and said he had paid the money. The total amount is N31 million because N1 million was collected as commission. But it is not included,” he said.
Gbajabiamila had told The Guardian, last year, that he made some bad investments with the money and could not explain what happened.
He added that he was willing to plead for a settlement and spread payment of the money.
