Police element how Olukayode Olusanya, Oak Houses boss ‘defrauded’ shopper

The Nigerian police has reveal particulars of how Olukayode Olusanya, founding father of Oak Houses Restricted, allegedly defrauded a U.S.-based shopper, Anthony Ugbebor, an engineer.

The police are prosecuting Olusanya and his agency earlier than Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos on a four-count cost involving an alleged N152 million fraud, bordering on conspiracy, acquiring beneath false pretence, and stealing.

They had been arraigned on November 26, 2024, and pleaded not responsible.

Based on the prosecution, Olukayode Olusanya allegedly conspired with Lynda Umeh, Head of Gross sales and Advertising and marketing at Oak Houses, who’s at the moment at massive, to defraud the Nigerian-American complainant.

The alleged fraud reportedly befell between November 8, 2017, and August 4, 2020. Throughout that interval, the defendants had been mentioned to have satisfied Ugbebor to pay N152 million for 2 three-bedroom residences at Oak Residence in Victoria Island, promising supply by February 28, 2019.

Nevertheless, the property was allegedly by no means delivered.

At an earlier listening to on February 10, 2025, the prosecution sought to tender each the complainant’s petition and the defendant’s assertion as proof, however the defence objected.

On the resumed proceedings, Justice Kakaki dominated on the objections. The complainant’s petition was admitted and marked as Exhibit A, whereas the defendant’s assertion was rejected.

The decide acknowledged: “The petition sought to be tendered is signed. I admit the identical in proof and mark it as Exhibit A.”

On the defendant’s assertion, he dominated: “The assertion is hereby marked as rejected.”

Justice Kakaki defined that the prosecution had didn’t adjust to Part 17(2) of the Administration of Prison Justice Act.

Testifying as the primary prosecution witness, Amiebelomo mentioned he invited three further witnesses in the course of the investigation — Mrs. Kofo Coker, Mr. Seye, and Mr. Shuiabu.

When requested by prosecuting counsel, Supol M. A. Omo-Osagie, whether or not any of the witnesses submitted paperwork, he responded: “Sure, they tendered the fee receipt and supply letter from the defendant, issued in 2017, which the complainant, Anthony Ugbebor, accepted.”

The court docket subsequently adjourned the trial till July 8, 2025, for continuation.

Throughout cross-examination, defence counsel Adeleke Agboola (SAN) requested when the petition was dated. The witness replied: “It was dated December 27, 2023.”

He added that the petition was submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, and assigned to him for investigation on the identical day.

Amiebelomo confirmed that he later met Ugbebor in particular person after the petition was transferred to his division and that the complainant made and signed a press release in his presence.

When requested to confirm the authenticity of the signature on the petition, the officer acknowledged: “I’m not a signature skilled.”

He additional disclosed that the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) had beforehand dealt with the matter however mentioned he was unaware that Olusanya had refunded N110 million to the EFCC by way of financial institution draft.

He additionally acknowledged that Olukayode Olusanya didn’t inform him of any partial refund throughout his investigation.

Underneath additional questioning, Amiebelomo mentioned he was unaware of a civil go well with — No. LD447LMW/2023 — pending earlier than the Lagos State Excessive Courtroom, the place a pre-emptive injunction had reportedly been granted in opposition to each the complainant and the EFCC.

“They weren’t served,” he mentioned.

Agboola argued that the dispute was purely civil in nature and cited court docket choices discouraging police involvement in such issues.

Nevertheless, the prosecution objected to this line of argument.

Citing authorized authority, Omo-Osagie maintained that civil transactions may assume felony dimensions if fraud is established. He referenced Part 135 of the Proof Act and urged the court docket to low cost the defence’s submission.

Counsel for Oak Houses, Mr. E. Jude, later urged that Amiebelomo’s investigation was inconclusive. The officer disagreed, stating:

“My investigation was conclusive. Once I visited the situation, the constructing was not full.”

When requested whether or not the defendant provided any rationalization for failing to ship the property, Amiebelomo answered: “Sure.”

He added: “The defendant mentioned the worth he agreed with Ugbebor was now not workable for him, as prices had elevated, and that he wouldn’t go forward with the preliminary phrases. That was what he advised me.”

When questioned about whether or not Olusanya talked about COVID-19 or the sealing of the property by the Lagos State Authorities as causes for the delay, Amiebelomo responded:

“No, he didn’t point out COVID or the sealing of the constructing by the Lagos State Authorities.”