By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its second witness on Monday, March 18, 2024, in a high-profile fraud case involving Morufu Adewale (aka Gbegulerin Adelana), Omitogun Ajayi, Ajisegiri Abiodun, Abayomi Alaka (aka Dauda Usman Alashe), Taiwo Ahmed, Raufu Raheem, and Sanlabiu Teslim. The trial, presided over by Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, saw the defendants re-arraigned in December 2022 after the case file was reassigned from Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.
The first charge read, “Morufu Yahaya Adewale, Omitogun Ajayi, Ajisegiri Abiodun, Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka, Taiwo Olamilekan Ahmed, Raufu Wale Raheem and Sanlabiu Owolabi Teslim between May and July 2018 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division obtained the total sum of £1,000,000.00 (One Million Pounds Sterling) from Dr. and Dr. (Mrs) Lateef Oladimeji Bello for the purpose of conducting prayers for spiritual cleansing of the family and that the money will be refunded after the prayers within one week, which pretence you knew to be false.”
The third charge read, “Morufu Yahaya Adewale, Omitogun Ajayi, Ajisegiri Abiodun, Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka, Taiwo Olamilekan Ahmed, Raufu Wale Raheem and Sanlabiu Owolabi Teslim between August and September 2018 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division obtained the total sum of N175,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventy-five Million Naira Only) from Dr. and Dr. (Mrs) Lateef Oladimeji Bello for the purpose of conducting spiritual prayers for spiritual cleansing of their son and the family and that the money will be refunded one week after the prayers which pretence you knew to be false.”
The defendants face charges related to obtaining £1 million and ₦175 million from Dr. and Dr. (Mrs.) Lateef Oladimeji Bello under false pretenses of conducting spiritual prayers for their family’s spiritual cleansing, with promises of refunding the money within a week. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the commencement of the trial.
During Monday’s proceedings, the second witness, Moruf Quadri, who served as Dr. Lateef Bello’s chauffeur for 25 years, provided crucial testimony. Quadri recounted driving his employer to various remote locations for purported spiritual rituals and observed the syndicate collecting large sums of money in Naira and foreign currencies.
“In May 2018, myself, Baba Sanlabiu, my boss, Dr. Bello, we went to Ikenne, and when we got there, he came down with his son, and they entered one house, while I remained in the car, and they spent about two hours,” he testified.
Led by N.K. Ukoha, Quadri identified several defendants and detailed trips to places like Ikenne, Ijebu-Igbo, and Igbogbo. He highlighted instances where money was handed over to members of the syndicate, including transactions through a bureau de change operator and Eco Bank accounts.
He testified further stating, “We went to Ijebu-Igbo, we used about eight hours to get there, and when we got there, they used about three hours inside, while I waited, before they came out.
“On our way back, we dropped Omitogun back in Ikorodu and we came back home in Lagos. We also, at various times, received money from one aboki who does bureau de change for onward transmission to Ifakunle.”
Quadri revealed that his employer’s financial situation deteriorated due to the extortion, leaving him with a dilapidated vehicle and financial strain. He recounted a pivotal moment when Dr. Bello discovered the money meant for the spiritual cleansing had disappeared from a designated location in Ijebu-Igbo.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, Adebayo Adegbite, Quadri affirmed that he did not enter the houses visited during the trips. He identified his statements to the EFCC, provided in both Yoruba and English languages, and acknowledged his cooperation with authorities during interrogation.
The case was adjourned until March 19, 2024, for further cross-examination, marking another step in the legal proceedings against the defendants implicated in the alleged fraud scheme.
