April 12, 2022

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday dismissed the no-case submission filed by one Ayodeji Ibrahim Oluokun, a self-acclaimed Lagos-based pastor, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for an alleged $1.6million scam.

In a statement by the EFCC, Oluokun, whose trial began on May 8, 2019, is being prosecuted alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on charges bordering on issuance of dud cheques, stealing and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $1.6 million.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), pastor, Ayodeji Oluokun is standing trial for alleged issuance of dud cheques of $1.6 million.

Justice Taiwo, in her ruling held that the prosecution had established a sufficient prima facie case against the defendant.

“After carefully considering the submissions of the prosecution and the defence, the court at this stage is not not to review the evidence of the prosecution but to see whether the prosecution has put enough evidence before the court to warrant the defendant to defend his case.

“The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several documents.The evidence of the prosecution shows that the prosecution has sufficiently proven a prima facie case against the defendant.

“I hereby dismiss the application of the defence and order that the defendant to open his defence,” Taiwo ruled.

At the last proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Edoka Onyeke, had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

He, had therefore asked the court to dismiss the charge against his client.

However, Mr Samuel Daaji, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) had asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced by the prosecution sufficiently linked the defendant to the offenses to warrant him to be called upon to open his defence.

NAN reports that the prosecution had closed its case against tge on October 2021 after calling the 7th witness.

The defendant, who was an oil marketer and an assistant pastor of RCCG, City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, was charged before the court alongside his oil firm, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd. by the EFCC.

Oluokun and Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Limited, on or about 26th June, 2014, at Lagos, allegedly issued a Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited Cheque dated 26th June, 2014 for the sum of $1,000,000 only payable to GOSL Nigeria Limited, which when presented for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which cheque was drawn.

Taiwo adjourned the case until June 10 for the defendant to open defence.