An Ikeja Special Offences Court on yesterday dismissed a No Case Submission filed by a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Ayodeji Oluokun, for alleged issuance of dud cheques of $1.6 million.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her ruling held that the prosecution had filed sufficient prima facie case against the defendant.
The judge held that “After carefully considered the submission of the prosecution and then defense, the court at this stage is 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 different documents.The evidence of the prosecution shows that the prosecution has sufficiently proved a prima- facie case against the defendant.
“I hereby dismissed the case of the defence and order that the defendant open his defense”.
At the last date of adjournment, the defense counsel, Mr Onyeke Edoka, submitted that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
The Economic and Financial Commission, (EFCC), counsel, Mr Samuel Daaji, 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 on to open his defense.
The prosecution closed its case in October 2021 after calling its 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 EFCC.
The defendant and his company were first arraigned before the court on Jan. 21, 2019, on a six-count amended charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and issuance of dud cheques.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge and accordingly admitted to bail in some terms and conditions.
EFCC, in a charge, marked ID/8509c/19, alleged that the defendant and his company, sometimes in 2014, approached the management of GOSL Nigeria Limited for a loan of $1.6 million to enable him to carry out operational activities in his company’s oil field in Bayelsa State.
The prosecution submitted that the defendant had assured the complainant that he would repay the money within sixty days.
Following the defendant’s failure to repay the loan as promised, he was alleged to have issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques dated June 26, 2014, for the sum of $1.6 million.
The EFCC stated that upon presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal by the complainant on several occasions, they were returned due to insufficient funds.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The matter has been adjourned until June 10 for the defendant to open defense.
