Ebun Olu Adegboruwa

The EFCC on Monday called it’s first witness in the trial of a rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, charged with lease of attached property before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The EFCC–Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, slammed the accused with one count charge of leasing a Lagos property, already the subject of a forfeiture order of court.

When the case was called on Monday, the prosecutor Mr Idris Abdullahi, called it’s first witness, Mr Godwin Adams.

Led in evidence by prosecution, the witness stated that he was an engineer by profession, but was also engaged in real estate management.

He said that his client, Shelf Drilling Nig. Ltd, required an apartment at Nicon Town Estate, Lekki and he and other agents helped them locate a five bedroom apartment belonging to one Mr Jonathan Udeagbala.

He said that the property was negotiated with Udeagbara’s wife, for the sum of N10 million per anum for five years.

According to the witness, the company later became reluctant to deal until Mrs Udeagbala, who then took the agents to her family lawyer, Adegboruwa for conviction.

He said that Adegboruwa disclosed to them that there was a pending criminal case with the EFCC involving Mr Udeagbara and that they had all agreed to rent out the property in order to raise money to settle the matter with the EFCC.

He said that the company then paid the money into the account of Adegboruwa on behalf of his client, Udeagbara and took possession of the property.

According to the witness, later the EFCC stormed the house claiming that the property was encumbered due to a forfeiture order by the court.

After listening to the witness, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo adjourned the case to June 14 for continuation of trial.

In the one count charge, the accused was alleged to have conspired with one Jonathan Udeagbala (now at large) to lease out a property located at No 105 NICON Town Estate Lekki, Lagos.

The property was said to be the subject of an interim order of attachment issued by Justice C.A Balogun of a Lagos High Court, on June 18, 2012

The said property was said to have been leased to one Shelf Drilling Nig. Ltd for over N61 million without the consent of the EFCC.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 32(1) of the EFCC Act, 2004.