RismadarVoice Reporters, March 6, 2026
The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Dr. John Abebe and his company, Inducon Nigeria Limited, in their ongoing trial over an alleged N120 million fraud.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe delivered the ruling on Thursday, March 5, 2026, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence linking the defendants to the charges to warrant them opening their defence.
Abebe and a co-defendant, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, were arraigned on September 19, 2022, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, stealing, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, and obtaining execution of security by false pretence involving N120 million belonging to Arsenal Technologies Limited.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired on June 4, 2013, in Lagos to fraudulently obtain the sum from the complainant by pledging a property located at 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, as collateral.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants falsely represented the property as unencumbered, despite knowing that it had already been pledged to a bank.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty, prompting the commencement of trial in 2022.
During the proceedings, the prosecution called four witnesses before closing its case on May 15, 2025.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the first and third defendants filed a no-case submission on October 14, 2025, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case linking them to the alleged offences.
But in her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe stated that at the stage of a no-case submission, the court only considers whether the prosecution has presented legally admissible evidence connecting the defendants to the offences, not whether the evidence is sufficient to secure a conviction.
The judge held that evidence presented by the prosecution suggested that the defendants allegedly obtained about N120 million from the complainant by pledging property already used as collateral with a bank.
She added that the evidence, if believed, requires explanation from the defendants.
Consequently, the court dismissed the no-case submission, ordered the defendants to enter their defence.
The case was adjourned to May 28, and June 3, 4, 24, and 25, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.
