Court Issues Bench Warrant Against Former Punch Employee, Others

A bench warrant against a former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd, Olusegun Ogunbanjo and others, charged over a N950 million fraud case has been issued by an Ikeja High Court.

The trial Judge, Justice Justice Ismail Ijelu, ordered the bench warrant against Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Ltd., Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Ltd and Godwin Benson, as well.

Ijelu made the order of arrest after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the Defendants following their non-appearance in court.

A Counsel, one Ms Ugochukwu, who held brief for her principal Counsel, (the first defence Counsel, Mr Charles Jiakponna), did not oppose the request, but prayed for a short adjournment for her senior colleague to be in court.

The Judge, in his ruling, said the first defendant had been served with proof of service since  December 12, 2023 in which Jiakponna had been appearing as his counsel in the case. He said Jiakponna had made a passionate plea to the court in the previous proceedings to avail all the Defendants in court at the next adjournment date, but failed to do so.

According to him, a general rule in criminal proceedings is that when a Defendant is aware of criminal charges against him but wilfully stays away without a valid reason, his attendance could be secured by a bench warrant.

He said: “The law empowers the court where it is sacrosanct that the Defendant is absent without a valid reason, to issue a bench warrant against him to ensure his presence in court.

“I have considered the antecedent of this case, and I find out that the first Defendant was aware of this case, the counsel appeared for him on  December 12, 2023, and told this court that he received the proof of service on his behalf.

“I, therefore, find and hold that the first Defendant is fully aware of the criminal charges against him.

“Consequently, a bench warrant is hereby issued for the arrest of the first Defendant and other Defendants in this  case.”

Ijelu adjourned the case until April 30, for arraignment.

The arraignment of the Defendants on March 19 suffered a setback, due to their absence in court. The court had on February 26, 2024 overruled the objections of the first Defendant, that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Lagos State Government had on March 10, 2023, arraigned Ogunbanjo before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates Court for alleged N950 million fraud, and Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun, granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, following his not guilty plea to the three-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, forgery, and stealing.

Ogunbanjo was alleged to have obtained N450 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin, and N500 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun, under false pretences of using the money to buy stationeries. He is also alleged to have forged the organisation’s Local Purchase Orders to carry out the acts, in contravention of Sections 287, 314, and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.