The Lagos Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, September 19, 2019 arraigned one Olalegbin Christopher alongside his firms, Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited and Gelbin Technology Limited, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N22, 239, 869.79k (Twenty-two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira, Seventy- nine Kobo), an offence contrary to Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
According to the statement released by the anti-graft agency, the defendant was arrested during a collaborative operation by the EFCC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for his alleged involvement in illegal internet activities and money laundering. The defendant also allegedly used his companies to receive and conceal the proceeds of his criminal activities.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Olalegbin Christopher, Olatunji Olalegbin Mary (at large), Pentview Luxury Real Estate Management Limited, Gelbin Technology Limited and others still at large, between 2015 and 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to collaborate in the concealing and disguising the genuine nature and ownership of the aggregate sum of N22, 239, 869.79k (Twenty Two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira, Seventy-nine Kobo only)being money received and derived from your illegal internet activities.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the case. However, counsel to the defendant, Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution. Akeredolu also told the court that the prosecution had responded to the affidavit.
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