Court adjourns ex-PUNCH staff N950m fraud case

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Court adjourns ex-PUNCH staff N950m fraud case

The Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, on Wednesday, adjourned till June 28, the trial of a former staff of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mikhail Ogunbanjo, for an alleged fraud of N950m.

The matter, which was scheduled for substantive hearing on Wednesday, could not proceed as the magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, was said to be away on an administrative assignment.

The case was consequently adjourned till June 28.

Ogunbanjo was first arraigned on March 8, 2023 on three counts bordering on obtaining money by pretence, forgery and stealing.

The police alleged that the defendant committed the offence between January 2017 and December 2022, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The defendant was alleged to have obtained N450m from one Olusola lkuyajesin and N500m from one Durodola Balogun under the pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.

He was also accused of forging the organisation’s Local Purchase Orders to carry out the acts.

The prosecution said the offences contravened sections 287, 314, and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

However, the 45-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N10m with two responsible sureties in like sum.