The Special Offences Court in Ikeja has charged Olaoluwa Oluwamide and his company, Ayomi Triumph Energy Ltd., with allegedly defrauding Sterling Bank Plc of $39,554.
Oluwamide and his company are facing charges of converting an erroneous transfer, which he pleaded not guilty to by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
EFCC’s counsel, Nwandu Ukoha, stated that the case has been inherited from retired trial judge Serifat Solebo, who has requested an accelerated trial.
Mr Ukoha prayed for a trial date, informing the court of the various tactics employed by the defendant’s lawyer in the previous court to frustrate the trial.
He complained that while they were before Justice Solebo, Oluwamide’s lawyer was always absent from the proceedings.
Mr. Ukoha admitted in court that in September 2017, he mistakenly transferred a certain amount of money into the defendant’s account number 0058212641, which he then dishonestly converted.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 278 (1)(b), 278 (2)(d) and 285 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.
Mr. Olumuyiwa Balogun, the defense counsel, arrived late and requested to represent the defendant in court.
Olubusola Okunuga asked if the lawyer still wished to represent the defendant, and Mr Balogun answered in the affirmative.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the trial until 8 February 2024.