Police drop fraud charges against Lagos ex-deputy gov

The police have dropped the N130m fraud charges it instituted against a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in a short ruling, struck out the charges on Wednesday upon an application by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, for the withdrawal of the charges against Ojikutu.

The police gave no reason for withdrawing the charges.

However, the arraignment of the woman had been stalled twice in February due to her moves to settle with the complainant, who was said to be the victim of the alleged fraud.

The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police had charged her with three counts of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

Ojikutu was alleged to have  in September 2011 conspired with one Sampson Ojikutu, who was said to be at large, to fraudulently obtain the sum of N130m from one Cajetan Okekearu.

It was alleged that the money was obtained under the pretence that they possessed a plot of land to sell at Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island Lagos.

The complainant was said to have later discovered that their claim of ownership was false, since there was an already existing title to the land.

The offences were said to contravene the provisions of sections 1(a) (iii), and 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Cap. A6, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

She was also said to have contravened the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Vol. 10, Laws of the Federation, 2010.