The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned one Christopher Olalegbin on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N22,239,869.79k, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that Mr Olalegbin was arraigned alongside his firms, Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited and Gelbin Technology Limited, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, for the offence, which is contrary to Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
According to EFCC, the suspect was arrested during a collaborative operation by the commission and America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged involvement in illegal internet activities.
The defendant also allegedly used his companies to receive and conceal the proceeds of his criminal activities.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Olalegbin Christopher, Olatunji Olalegbin Mary (at large), Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited, Gelbin Technology Limited and others still at large, between 2015 and 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to collaborate in the concealing and disguising the genuine nature and ownership of the aggregate sum of N22,239,869.79k (Twenty Two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira, Seventy-nine Kobo only)being money received and derived from your illegal internet activities.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, MK Bashir, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the case.
However, counsel to the defendant, Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN) informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution.
Akeredolu also told the court the prosecution had responded to the affidavit.
She, therefore, urged the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms.
In his response, Bashir told the court that a counter-affidavit had been filed and served on the defence, where he opposed the prayer of the defendant.
The prosecution counsel further described the defendant as a flight risk, adding “The defendant, while making statement in the EFCC office, tried to move money from his Zenith Bank account through his phone and also wiped all the information on his phone.”
Bashir also informed the court that the defendant’s mum, who aided him in perpetrating the crime, could not be found.
“My Lord, the defendant too may also abscond like his mum.
“He is 26 years old and has never worked anywhere. Yet, he acquired a 2019 model Porsche car worth N120million and a 2015 model Mercedes Benz car worth N75million,” Bashir further submitted.
The prosecution counsel, therefore, urged the court not to grant the defendant bail.
Justice Taiwo, after listening to both parties, said “the offence is abailable one.”
The judge, therefore, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a level 16 officer with the Lagos State Government, while the other must be a relation of the defendant resident in Lagos.
The judge also directed that the addresses of the sureties must be verified by the EFCC, while evidence of identification of the sureties must be provided to the court.
Justice Taiwo adjourned the case to October 18 and 23 for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in Kirikiri prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
