A Lagos State High Court sitting at Ikeja on Friday, 19th August 2022, has discharged and acquitted a businessman, Engineer Wali Olayiwola Akande, and his company First Options Motors Company Limited, accused of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and stealing N100M belonging to Olam Nigeria Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecuted the accused persons in 2013 and later re-arraigned them in 2018 before Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Ikeja Special Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in eight counts charges of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing of a hundred million naira belonging to Olam Nigeria Limited for selling a landed property according to the EFCC which does not belong to the accused persons but to Olam Nigeria Limited.
However, the trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, acquitted and discharged the accused persons of all the counts’ charges in suit number LCD/229C/2013.
EFCC counsel, Mr S.O. Daji, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on January 27, March 1, 8, 12, and May 4, 2012, while the defence counsel, Mr Omoniyi Odeyemi, in his argument, told the court that the property in question belongs to the accused person and the accused persons’ title to the land has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan.
Delivering judgment, Mrs Oluwatoyin Taiwo held that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge also held that the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of conspiracy, false pretence, and stealing against the defendants.
“The defendant is now discharged and acquitted,” she held.
The EFCC counsel, S.O. Daji, and defence Counsel Omoniyi Odeyemi appreciated the court’s well-considered judgment.
