The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned a businesswoman, Oluwabukunola Gadzama before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly stealing N34.5 million on the pretext of procuring a plot of land.
Gadzama was arraigned alongside her company, Buildcon Global Services Ltd., on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and retention of proceeds of crime.
She however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC counsel, Franklin Ofoma, thereafter prayed the court for a trial date. and urged the court to remand the defendant pending commencement of trial. He alleged that between October 2021 and April 2022 in Lagos, Gadzama stole and converted for her own use the sum of N34.5 million, property of the complainant, Adeyemi Joshua. The money, he said, was meant for the purchase of a 300sqm plot of land situated at Mak Court Estate in Lekki.
Defence counsel, I.O. Lala said the defendant was ready to stand trial and that the offences for which she was charged were bailable. He prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendant was a flight risk. He said that the defendant had on November 20, 2024, jumped administrative bail given to her by the EFCC.
Justice Ismail Ijelu, in his ruling, admitted Gadzama to bail in the sum of N5 million with two responsible sureties in like sum. The sureties must also show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The judge ruled that the businesswoman be remanded in the correctional centre pending the perfection of the bail application.
The court adjourned the case until April 15 for the commencement of trial.