Man faces charges for N13.6m property scam in Oyo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Directorate, has brought a man named Yusuf Oyepeju before Justice Olusola Adetujoye at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
Oyepeju, along with his two companies, Alwajeez International Nigeria Limited and AIN Homes and Property Limited, is facing six charges related to forgery, document fraud, stealing by conversion, and obtaining money under false pretenses amounting to N13,697,900.00.
This information was released in a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in Ibadan on Wednesday.
The charges claim that Oyepeju defrauded an Islamic cleric named Fasasi Bayonle, who is based in Dubai. They met in a WhatsApp group for Muslims where both were teachers sharing Islamic teachings.
According to the statement, one of the charges says: "That you, Yusuf Oyepeju, Alwajeez International Nigeria Limited and AIN Homes And Properties Limited between February and August 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Hon Court, converted to your own personal use, the sum of N8,697,900.00, property of one Fasasi Bayonle, thereby committing an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Section 390(9) Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004."
Oyepeju pleaded "not guilty" to all the charges when they were read to him.
After the plea, the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, asked the Court to set a date for the trial to begin. He also requested that Oyepeju be kept in a correctional facility.
On the other hand, the defendant’s lawyer, B. Ajibola, told the Court that they have filed a bail application and served it to the prosecution, asking the Court to grant bail for his client.
Justice Adetujoye then postponed the case for the bail application hearing and ordered that Oyepeju be kept in Agodi Correctional Centre.
EFCC stated, "Oyepeju’s journey to the Correctional Centre began in 2018 when he allegedly asked Bayonle for financial help to get a place to stay for him and his newly married wife in Ibadan. Bayonle agreed to help and offered Oyepeju the temporary use of his house in Ibadan, located at No. 3, Road 7, Ikumapayi area of Olodo, while he raised the money.
The defendant, who claimed to be a property developer, moved into the house and persuaded Bayonle to send him money to buy land and build a new house for him in Ibadan. Bayonle sent N8,697,900.00 for the land purchase and development.
A few months later, it was found that Oyepeju allegedly forged a document of "Transfer of Agreement" between himself and Bayonle. He sold the house he was temporarily living in to his companies and kept the money for himself.
Investigations also showed that Oyepeju did not keep his promise to buy land and develop it for Bayonle after receiving the money.