Alleged N555.8m fraud: Court Orders ‘Smart Investors’ Couple to Open Defence

 A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, has ordered a couple: Oladeji and Omotayo Henry, alongside their company, Built Global Concepts, facing prosecution for an alleged N555,820,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Two Naira) fraud, to open their defence on May 28, 2022.

The trial Judge,Justice Mojisola Dada gave the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presented its last witness and closed its case in the ongoing trial of the couple and their firm.

 

The EFCC had on March 4, 2020, arraigned the defendants on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, and stealing contrary to Sections 411, 280(2)(f), 280(1)(b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Count one read: “That you, Oladeji Henry, Omotayo Henry, and Built Global Concept, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert to the use of Abiodun Semawon Henry the total sum of N410,170,000.00 (Four Hundred and Ten Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira), property of Smart Investor Club; and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 (2)(f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

Another count read: “That you, Oladeji Henry, Omotayo Henry, and Built Global Concepts Limited, sometime on or about 2018 in Lagos, within the Ikeja judicial division, conspired amongst yourselves to dishonestly convert to the use of Abiodun Semawon Henry the total sum of N70 million property of Julius Ekonorue.”