Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday, ordered that a bench warrant be issued against a 77 year old, alleged land speculator, Alimi Alarape, over failure to appear in court to face trial on the charges made against him.
Justice Aluko issued the bench warrant, sequel to the application made by the prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, of the legal/Prosecution department of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The 77 years old defendant is being arraigned before the court sometimes 2023.
The charges preferred against the defendants read: “that you Alime Liadi Alarape of 17, Owodunni Street, off Kayode Street, Onipanu, Ilupeju, Lagos State and others currently at large between the year 2011 to 2013, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit obtaining money by false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 8 (c) of the same Act.
“That you Alimi Liadi Alarape of 17, Owodunni Street, off Kayode Street, Onipanu, Ilupeju, Lagos State and others currently at large on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud did fraudulently obtain the sum of N10million from “one Mrs. Mosebolatan Johnson in the pretext of selling to her two plots of land at Warewa Area in Ogun State, a representation you know to be false and does not believe to be true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”.
However, upon being admitted to bail, the defendant has refused and failed to come to court for his trial.
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the resumed hearing of the Charge today, the prosecutor, Animashaun to former the court that defendant lawyer, one Adio, sent him a message that he would not be available due to his personal matter before Justice Harrison of a Lagos high court Lagos.
The prosecutor also told the court that defendant’s lawyer also informed him that his client is indisposed.
Based on the above, the prosecutor prat the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendant, and urge the court to also order his sureties to show cause.
The presiding judge, after perusing the court records, held that the defendant has failed to attend the court for his trial.
The judge consequently ordered that a bench warrant be issued against the defendant.
Further hearing of the charge has been adjourned to March 17, 2026.
