The ongoing trial of Olusegun Ogunbanjo, a former employee of PUNCH Nigeria Ltd, has encountered a significant hurdle attributed to the recent death of his defense counsel. Ogunbanjo faces serious allegations of fraud amounting to N998 million, primarily related to fraudulent stationery supplies. During the arraignment on June 21, he was charged with eight counts that include conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money under false pretenses, stealing, and forgery. Pleading not guilty to all charges, Ogunbanjo’s case has now been complicated further following the unexpected passing of his defense attorney, Mr. T.E. Okeke, in a car accident just two weeks prior to the trial date.
On the latest court date, defense attorney Ms. M.A. Abia-Bassey informed the court of her last-minute appointment as Ogunbanjo’s new counsel. She emphasized that her predecessor’s sudden death left her with limited time to prepare. Furthermore, she raised concerns about Ogunbanjo’s health, requesting an adjournment to allow him to seek medical attention. Without specific details about his condition, she commented on the difficulty of confirming whether his health issues were genuine or if they were a potential ploy to delay the proceedings. Abia-Bassey’s plea was for a short postponement to ensure she could familiarize herself with the case file while tending to Ogunbanjo’s purported health needs.
Contrasting the defense’s claim, the prosecutor Dr. Babajide Martins argued against delaying the trial, citing the presence of a key witness, Insp. Augustin Iyida, who was already in the courtroom ready to testify. Dr. Martins expressed skepticism regarding Ogunbanjo’s health claim, pointing out that it is not uncommon for defendants to assert illness as a tactic to postpone trials. Justice Ismail Ijelu probed correctional officers for insights into Ogunbanjo’s health status. Although the officers acknowledged he appeared unwell, they admitted that no medical documentation was available to substantiate his claims of illness.
Considering the absence of medical proof validating Ogunbanjo’s health concerns, Justice Ijelu decided to adjourn the trial, albeit not due to the defendant’s alleged illness. He stated that the primary reason for the adjournment was to provide the new defense counsel with sufficient time to become acquainted with the details of the case. The trial is now rescheduled for November 25, on which date proceedings will officially commence, allowing both sides to present their arguments.
The prosecution’s case against Ogunbanjo alleges that he committed fraud with the assistance of accomplices who remain unidentified. The timeline for the alleged offences spans from January 2017 to December 2022, primarily occurring in Ikorodu, Lagos. One prominent allegation states that Ogunbanjo fraudulently secured N417 million from Mr. Durodola Balogun by falsely claiming these funds were needed for the purchase of stationery per a Local Purchase Order for PUNCH Nigeria Ltd. Additionally, he is accused of extracting N581 million from Mr. Olusola Ikuyajesin under similar fraudulent pretenses.
In addition to the monetary allegations, Ogunbanjo is also accused of enriching himself through the theft of thousands of US dollars belonging to Ikuyajesin, alongside allegedly forging official LPOs from PUNCH Nigeria Ltd. These actions are reported to violate various sections of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015. With the significant amount of alleged fraud and serious charges involved, Ogunbanjo’s trial is poised to draw considerable attention, as it raises public concern regarding accountability in corporate governance and legal breaches within the supply chain processes.
