EFCC CHAIRMAN, FARIDA WAZIRI

Accused fraudsters enter plea bargain with EFCC.

Two estate agents, Bayo Lawal and Femi Johnson, accused of defrauding 200 prospective tenants of over N49 million, have entered a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).The accused on Monday in Lagos granted the EFCC the right to auction or sell their properties and use the proceeds to refund money to victims of the alleged fraud.The accused are facing trial before an Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Habeeb Abiru on a 119-count charge bothering on conspiracy and fraud.In the charge sheet, the EFCC alleged that the accused defrauded the intending tenants between 2005 and 2008, under the pretext of securing accommodation for them.At the trial, counsel to Lawal, A.D. Lasisi, told the court that his 46-year-old client had entered a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.The said properties are located at 5 and 55 Olaiya St., Mafoluku, Oshodi; 14 Orobiyi St., Oshodi; 15 Sokunbi St., Mushin and 20 Ogunkoya St., Oshodi, Lagos.EFCC counsel, Anselem Ozioko said the plea bargain agreement was favourable to the victims.Ozioko, however, said the accused were likely to face jail terms because of their crime.He alleged that their offences contravened Sections 390 (9), 419 and 467 (1) (b) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Vol. 2 , Laws of Lagos State 2003 .He added that the offences contravened Section 3(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.Some of the victims said they were happy with the way the case was going.Olayode Babatunde, a victim of the alleged crime said he was hopeful that justice would be done.Another victim of the alleged fraud, Lukman Balogun urged the EFCC to sell the properties “as soon as possible so that we can recover our money”.The accused are facing four separate trials before Justices Habeeeb Abiru and Jumoke Pedro and are presently remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons.Abiru adjourned the case to July 22