Bankole’s brother arraigned over N2.8m fraud
By Francis Falola, Abeokuta
Saturday, 28 May 2011

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Dimeji Bankole

A younger brother of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, Toyin, was on Friday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abeokuta for allegedly defrauding one Modinat Odunlami of N2.8m.

Also arraigned with Bankole’s younger brother was one Segun Baruwa, who allegedly conspired to commit fraud by collecting money from Odunlami through fraudulent means.

The First Information Report in the suit number MA18/2009 made available to our correspondent showed that Baruwa introduced the complainant to Bankole’s brother.

The police prosecutor, Paul Etusi, an inspector, told the court that the accused collected the money under the pretence that they would help her and her daughter to secure an overseas visa and admission respectively.

Etusi, who said the offence was committed on January 15, 2009, called eight witnesses to support his claim, but six of them were in court during Friday’s sitting.

He stated that Toyin had informed his victims that he would use the influence of his brother (Speaker Dimeji Bankole) to facilitate the issuance of the visa and securing of an admission for the daughter.

He informed the court that he was ready to open the case for full trial, while expressing regret that efforts made by the complainant and the police to get the matter settled out of court failed to yield the desired result, as the accused were not ready to refund the money.

According to him, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 419 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

However, the defence counsel, Adedotun Akinmade, who was represented by another counsel, Carol Omobujo, pleaded for a short adjournment, saying that they were not ready for trial.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Kolawole Peters, granted the request for an adjournment and adjourned the case till July 13 for further hearing.

Odunlami said after the proceeding that the case had to suffer a series of postponements so as to allow for an out-of-court settlement.

She stated that the Speaker’s father, Chief Alani Bankole, had earlier intervened and promised to get the issue resolved out of court, adding that the case had to continue following the non-fulfilment of the promise.

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