Muazu dupes Afe Babalola N2.5m, lands in court

A 35-year-old man, Abdulrahman Muazu, has been arraigned before an Ado Ekiti Magistrate’s Court for allegedly duping eminent lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, of N2.5 million.

Muazu was alleged to have defrauded Chief Babalola by allegedly pretending to be the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah.

He was said to have posed as Bishop Kukah in a telephone conversation with Chief Babalola and allegedly requested a sum of N2.5 million as part of funds being raised in aid of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the North East.

The accused was charged with obtaining money under pretence with intent to defraud and present himself as Bishop Kukah, with which he obtained  a  sum of N2.5 million from Chief Babalola.

The offence, according to the charge, is punishable under Sections 1 (3) and 11 of Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences in the criminal code.

Muazu was charged alongside others at large, on a two-count charge of felony and fraud.

Counsel for the accused, Mr Busuyi Ayorinde, urged the court to grant his client bail.

The Magistrate, Doyin Akosile, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Akosile also ruled that the sureties must be a reputable cleric and a civil servant with Ekiti State government.

He adjourned the case till October 28 for further hearing.

Muazu, being unable to meet the bail conditions, was taken to prison custody.

In another development, three persons, Tope Mohammed ; Obinna Bassey and Kingsley Igwe, have appeared before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for assault of law enforcement officers.

They were charged with a “serious assault on police officers,” Inspector Adefemi Oguntade and Sergeant Ebrudge Odunayo, while performing their lawful duties.

They were also accused of assaulting one Jimoh Abdulwahab, an officer of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA).

The offence contravenes Section 356 (1) (3) of Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol. 1 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

The accused were granted bail which was pleaded on their behalf by their counsel, Ayorinde.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October28 for further hearing.