Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court yesterday issued a bench warrant and revoked the bail of 65-year-old Suleiman Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila was arraigned in 2022 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of defrauding a UK-based Nigerian, Lateef Adeyemo, of N30 million, along with other payments intended for the purchase of an apartment.
According to the charge, Gbajabiamila, who posed as an estate agent in 2021, fraudulently collected and converted to his use the money meant to purchase a two-bedroom flat for Adeyemo between September and October 2021.
He was initially arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on charges of stealing and false representation, offences punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Before yesterday’s sitting, the case had been adjourned eight times in the High Court. Counsel to the EFCC, Ahmad Usman, accused Gbajabiamila of deliberately wasting the court’s time and prayed the court to revoke his bail.
On January 21, 2025, Gbajabiamila appeared in court for the third time without legal representation. He explained to the judge that his lawyer had withdrawn at the last minute. Justice Ijelu then adjourned the case to February 10, 2025, warning Gbajabiamila that it was his last chance.
During an earlier sitting on November 21, 2024, Gbajabiamila’s counsel, Adedeji Onayida, claimed the defendant was too ill to attend court. However, a medical report submitted stated that he was treated for malaria from November 19 to November 22, 2024—one day after the scheduled hearing.
The prosecution questioned the authenticity of the report and sought the revocation of Gbajabiamila’s bail and the imposition of a N500,000 fine. Justice Ijelu, however, declined the prosecution’s request but adjourned the case.
On multiple occasions, Gbajabiamila appeared in court without legal representation. At one point, he submitted a draft of N5 million to the court through his former counsel, Afuye, only to retrieve it later.
Afuye subsequently informed the case’s Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Femi Ojikutu, that he would not be able to attend court, prompting another adjournment.
Gbajabiamila later informed the court that he no longer wished to retain his lawyer’s services and opted to represent himself.
Yesterday, neither Gbajabiamila nor any legal representative appeared before the court, leading Justice Ijelu to revoke his bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
