N18.8bn Fraud: Court Orders Police To Produce Alleged Fraudster

Justice Taofiqat Oyekan-Abdullahi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikoyi has ordered the police to produce an alleged judgment debtor, Bamise Ajetunmobi, whofled the country after defrauding investors of N18.8 billion, before her exit on February 2.

Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi gave the order after 17 of the investors (claimants), who had earlier been awarded N15.5 billion judgment against Ajetunmobi and his wife, Elizabeth, told the court that the defendant was in police custody following his arrest in Côte d’Ivoire while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom (UK).

The judge ordered the assistant inspector-general of the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department to produce Ajetunmobi to enable the claimants to examine him on his means to pay back the judgment debt.

The couple, alongside two firms linked to them, Imagine Global Holding Company Limited and Imagine Global Solutions Limited, were in October 2021 accused of defrauding some Nigerian investors of over N18.8 billion.

The whereabouts of the defendants were unknown for some time. But following reports of Bamise’s arrest in Côte d’Ivoire and detention by the Nigerian Police, counsel to the judgment creditors, Adetunji Adedoyin-Adeniyi, filed a motion ex parte to compel his appearance in court.

Adedoyin-Adeniyi, who filed the ex parte application under the relevant provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, asked Justice Toyin Oyekan-Abdullahi to make an order for the Issuance of Judgement Summons to compel Bamise to appear before the court and be examined as to his means to pay back the judgment debt.

Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi granted the application and ordered Bamise to appear before her court on February 2 at noon.