Story by Iyiola Ayomide
The Chief Executive Officer of Bethsaida Investment Partners Limited, Akintayo Ebenezer Ogunleye, has been remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) in Ikoyi, Lagos by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Yelim Bogoro remanded the Ogunleye, after he pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of fraud made against him by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, on Friday.
Ogunleye was arraigned on the all fraud charges before the court alongside his two companies; Bethsaida Investment Partners Limited and Hartfield Investment Limited.
The businessman and his two companies, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Justine Enang, were alleged to have defrauded their victims with the pretence of investing the money in real estate and online Forex investments.
They were alleged to have committed the offences between 2020 and 2023.
Among those alleged scammed and amount by the defendants include; Adetoro Afonja, N75 million; Mabel Bade Ojeikere, N14 million; Kanayo Christian Chigbo, N25 million; Grace Eleojo Awotunde, N62,592,600, N43 million; Olusola Kehinde Ogundiji, N107 million; Olumide Afolabi Fasugba, N35 million; Ade Emmanuel Moses Oluboade, N11 million; Adebanjo Esther Olayinka, N13.6 million; Adebanjo Kolawole, N2 million and Adebanjo Ruth Tolaniji, N120, 000.00.
Consequently, the prosecutor, urged the court to remand him in the NCoS’ custody till the determination of the charge.
Lawyer to the defendant, pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail, saying that the bail application had been filed same has been served on the prosecutor.
Responding the prosecutor told the court that he was just served with the application while in court.
Justice Bogoro after listening to counsel, adjourned the matter till March 12, for hearing of the bail application, while ordered that the businessman be remanded in NCoS’ custody.