Lagos Court jails man 20 years for N31m property fraud

Justice I. O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced one Sulaiman Olayiwola Gbajabiamila to a cumulative 20 years imprisonment for a N31 million property fraud.

Gbajabiamila, who was arraigned on September 19, 2023, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), faced a seven-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery, and retention of proceeds of crime.

One of the charges read: “That you, Sulaimon Olayiwola Gbajabiamila, sometimes in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with dishonest intent, stole and converted to your own use the sum of N31,000,000.00, property of Lateef Ayo Adeyemo.”

Another count stated: “That you, Sulaimon Olayiwola Gbajabiamila, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, forged a Sterling Bank Manager’s cheque no. 21664497 dated 20th October 2021 with the value of N10,000,000.00 in favour of STB Building Society Limited.”

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Gbajabiamila pleaded not guilty to all counts, prompting a full trial. The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L. Tukur, presented two witnesses and tendered documentary evidence, which were admitted by the court.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defence counsel, T. E. Gbado urged the court to show leniency, describing his client as remorseful and a first-time offender.

Delivering judgment on Monday, August 25, 2025, Justice Ijelu found Gbajabiamila guilty on all counts.

He was sentenced as follows: five years imprisonment on count one (stealing), with an option of N1 million fine; seven years on count two (obtaining by false pretences); two years each on counts three, four, and five (forgery), with an option of N1 million fine on each; two years on count six (using false documents), with an option of N200,000 fine; and four years on count seven (retention of proceeds of crime), with an option of N500,000 fine.

His ordeal began after an estate agent, identified as Lukman, introduced him to the petitioner, Lateef Adeyemo, who sought to acquire a flat at Lagos Homes in the Iponri area of Lagos.

Investigations revealed that Adeyemo paid a total of N31 million to Gbajabiamila for a two-bedroom apartment. However, the property was never delivered, as Gbajabiamila diverted the funds for personal use.