13th October, 2014
An Ikeja High Court on Monday issued a warrant of arrest against a Bureau de Change operator, Dipo Adedokun, over an alleged N155 million theft.
Justice Olutoyin Ipaye issued the warrant after Adedokun failed to appear before the court for the continuation of trial.
The judge revoked the N15 million bail earlier granted to Adedokun and ordered the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest him.
She said Adedokun should be arrested and produced in court on the next adjournment date fixed for 28 October.
Earlier, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Kayode Oni, told the court that the accused had failed to appear at two consecutive proceedings without cogent reasons.
Oni, therefore, asked the court to revoke his bail and issue a bench warrant against him to enable the EFCC to arrest him and expedite the trial.
However, Adedokun’s Counsel, Mr Rafiu Bello, objected to Oni’s oral application and pleaded with the court not to issue the warrant against the accused.
Bello explained that the accused was facing severe health challenges as a result of his being incarcerated for over 14 months and facing multiple criminal charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that Adedokun stole the money belonging to a businessman, Mr Oboden Ibru, under the pretext of helping him to convert the money to U.S. dollars.
The anti-graft agency said the accused failed to convert the money as agreed and refused to refund the complainant’s money.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravene Section 390 (8) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2003 and Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.