18th January, 2016
Paul Iyoghojie
The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. E. I. Alakija has re-arraigned a 44-year-old medical doctor, Dr. David Moroundiya before the criminal division of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged fraud.
Moroundiya allegedly obtained the sum of N11m from a surveyor, Abiodun Esan, under false pretence.
The accused, according to the DPP, also allegedly issued two bank cheques of N3m and N4m to the complainant with the pretence of paying part of the N11m, but when the cheques were presented for payments, they were dishonoured due to insufficient funds in the account.
The accused, a resident of Surulere area of Lagos, who claimed he graduated from the University of Lagos, Unilag, as a medical doctor, was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, issuance of two dud cheques and stealing.
The accused was first arraigned before the then Magistrate C. J. Momodu at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, in June 2013 by the operatives of the police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Milverton Street, Ikoyi, Lagos for the same three-count charge.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N1m with one surety in like sum.
In the new charge, the DPP informed the court, presided over by Justice S. S. Ogunsanya, that the accused, David Moroundiya, in March 2011 at Ogba area of Ikeja, Lagos, obtained the sum of N11m from Abiodun Esan under the pretence that he had authority to sell and transfer as owner of a property at 33, Kayode Street, Ogba, Lagos, a property he knew had been sold by his late father to someone else.
The DPP told the court that the accused on 28 March, 2013 at Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, issued two bank cheques No. 00240153 for N3m and No. 001818136 for N4m to Abiodun Esan which upon presentation were dishonoured on the ground that there was insufficient fund in his account.
The DPP said the offences the accused committed are punishable and contrary to sections 312, 285 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011 and sections 1(1)b of the dishonoured cheque Act CAP d11, Vol. 5 L.F.N 2004.
The accused again pleaded not guilty to the DPP’s allegation in the open court.
Justice S. S. Ogunsanya admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Ogunsanya adjourned the case till 28 February, 2016 for mention.