A Bureau De Change operator, Atoyebi Bamidele, also known as Bam-Bam, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on charges of allegedly obtaining N157 million from traders in Alaba Market under false pretenses. Bamidele, operating under the name Prosocial International Limited, is facing three counts of conspiracy, obtaining, and stealing filed against him by the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The charges stem from a petition submitted by the traders through their counsel, Henry Mejulu. According to the police prosecuting counsel, S. O. Ayodele, Bamidele conspired with others (currently at large) to commit the alleged offense. It is alleged that between December 2022 and January 2023, he fraudulently obtained a total of N157,206,000 by falsely promising to assist the traders in acquiring the equivalent amount in United States dollars.
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The prosecutor claimed that Bamidele collected the money from a representative of the traders, Mrs. Priscilla Oyiowo, through one Obinna Ozuah, but instead of fulfilling his promise, he diverted the funds for personal use. The charges filed against the defendant contravene sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and the Criminal Code Act.
During his arraignment, Bamidele pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre until the determination of the case. However, Bamidele’s lawyer, E. A. Alafin, informed the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client and urged the court to grant bail in liberal terms. The prosecutor opposed the bail application, stating that he needed time to review it and respond accordingly.
Justice Akintayo Aluko adjourned the case until October 5, 2023, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application and ordered that Bamidele be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until the adjourned date.
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