Iyalaje of Yorubaland and Fisolak Global Resources Limited boss, Princess Toyin Kolade has finally opened up on N13,138,880.000 ($32 million) fraud allegation.
She said; “I am never a fraudulent nor dubious person and those who know me well can attest to the fact. I have been audited and exonerated by the Police Special Fraud Unit whom after thorough investigation found out that the issue had nothing to do with me.”
“They wrote to me and my company in person and pleaded. The case ended more than 5 years ago. It was recently revisited and they are still attaching me and my company to the legal process which should originally not be so.”
“I am just clearing agent who only worked for the accused and got paid. I keep records and I have the documents still intact till date for records purpose. So the unnecessary clamor for my detractors to exploit this avenue to make disparaging comments and unfound assertions about me is uncalled for.”
“The said story is being syndicated by an individual with questionable character who feels intimidated by my numerous achievements ever since I was conferred with the title as Iyalaje Oodua by the Ooni Of Ife.”
“The more they throw their punches it won’t still get to me. I know the person behind it and I pray they heal very fast and come to bear in mind that who God has blessed no man can curse. I am a moving train and I am not intimidated nor perturbed by the lingering rumors.”
“They are all lies from the pit of hell. I am not a fraudster. I work hard for my money. I have instructed my lawyer to take a legal action against those responsible for the inclusion of my name in this issue when the court finally exonerate me.”
For those who don’t know, a Federal High Court in Lagos has summoned a lawyer Mr. O. Awowole to show cause why he should not be sanctioned for failing to present a defendant, Princess Oluwatoyin Kolade, that he allegedly undertook to produce in court.
Justice Peter Lifu ordered Awowole to appear on Tuesday, November 9, following Kolade’s failure to honour a hearing notice for her arraignment last Thursday on an alleged $32 million fraud charge.
The lawyer was also absent when the matter, marked: FHC/L/407C/2019 was called.
She is one of 11 people facing a 10-count charge of $32million fraud preferred against them by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF).
The defendants include four Indian men – Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Simgh Rawat and Mukul Tyagi and two Britons – Marcus Wade and Andrew Fairie, said to be at large.
Others are Metal Africa Steel Products Ltd, Wilben Trade Ltd, Fisolak Global Resources Ltd and Kannu Aditya India Ltd.
At the commencement of proceedings, a Deputy Director from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Akutah Pius, reminded the court that when he applied for a Bench Warrant for the defendants’ arrest, Awowole undertook to produce Kolade in court.
He said the counsel not only failed to do so, neither he nor Kolade were present in court.
Pius prayed for an adjournment to enable the defendants to appear, arguing that Awowole should face the consequences of his action.
He further prayed the court to renew a bench warrant issued for the defendants by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo who handled the case before her transfer to the court’s Abeokuta division.
Responding to the judge’s query as to why the prosecution failed to produce the other defendants, despite an arrest warrant and an extradition order, Pius explained the Federal Government was collaborating with Interpol on that, adding that extradition was challenging and takes time.
He stated that his intention was to arraign the defendant that resides in Lagos while the extradition process was ongoing for those abroad.
Pius also applied that since counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 9th defendants, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), was present, the court should appoint him as a special bailiff to serve the charge on his clients.
Belgore countered that his instruction was only to file a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court from entertaining the charge and to discharge the warrant of arrest earlier issued by the court.
Justice Lifu disagreed with the Silk, adding “If they briefed you, where are they? Did they brief you from the sky?”
The judge, in a short ruling, ordered that Awowole should appear on Tuesday to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.