The arraignment of Ufoma Joseph Immanuel and Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited over an alleged $1.5 million fraud was on Tuesday stalled at the Lagos State High Court due to non-service of court documents on the defendant.
The defendants are facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and forgery, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
When the case was called, EFCC counsel, Mr Emenike Mgbemele, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment. However, proceedings could not continue because the charge had not been served on the defendant.
Defence counsel, Mr Oluwaseun Awonuga (SAN), confirmed that the defence had not received the relevant court processes required for arraignment.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, adjourned the case until April 11 for arraignment.
Drama unfolded shortly after the proceedings, as the prosecution accused the defence counsel of preventing EFCC officials from re-arresting the defendant within the court premises.
According to the prosecution, Awonuga allegedly blocked the lead counsel from calling security operatives to take the defendant into custody before the next adjournment date. Heated arguments reportedly broke out between both lawyers, drawing the attention of other counsel, court staff and litigants.
The prosecution claimed it had intended to have the defendant detained pending the next hearing but was obstructed, alleging that the defence aided the defendant’s escape.
An EFCC lawyer, who spoke anonymously, expressed concern over the incident, stating that it was difficult to secure the defendant’s appearance in court and describing the development as unfortunate.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly obtained $1.5 million from Adebisi Adebutu of R28 Holdings Limited between April 2022 and October 2023 under the guise of an investment in a proposed petroleum development project.
The prosecution alleged that the funds were collected with promises of reimbursement, payment of development capital fees and allocation of shares in Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited.
The EFCC further accused the first defendant of forging a document titled “Term Sheet,” purportedly executed by Sherrif Oluwo and Olaniran Osotuyi, to facilitate the transaction.
The offences are said to contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.