Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Osaibovo Charles to a total of 50 years’ imprisonment for offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.
Charles was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate I of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge bordering on the fraudulent collection of £15,000 from one Miss Shenika Garati.
He deceived the victim by impersonating a popular Nigerian actor, Fredrick Leonard, claiming the funds were needed for a movie production in Nigeria.
One of the charges read that : “Charles Osaigbovo and Charles Evans Osaigbovo (deceased), in June 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of £38,000 (Thirty-Eight Thousand Pounds) by false pretence from Miss Shenika Garati.”
Another count reads : “Osaibovo Charles, sometime between February and August 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, transferred the aggregate sum of £15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Pounds) derived directly from your illegal activity by concealing the illegal origin of the same.”
Charles pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them, prompting a full trial.
The prosecution, led by T.J. Banjo called two witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence while the defence called one witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“Having reviewed the evidence, the court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant is found guilty as charged,” the judge ruled.
The sentencing was as follows: on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, he was jailed 14 years; for obtaining money by false pretence, 14 years; and for stealing, 5 years.
Other sentences include 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents and 3 years for money laundering. All sentences were without an option of fine.
Meanwhile, Charles was discharged and acquitted on the count of retention of proceeds of crime.
All the sentences are to run concurrently, amounting to a total of 50 years’ imprisonment.
The court also ordered restitution of £15,000 to the victim, Miss Shenika Garati.
Media & Publicity
November 18, 2025
EFCC Arraigns Lawyer for False Information
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned a lawyer, Steve Adamu before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna State on a one-count charge of false information peddling.
The charge reads: “That you Barrister Steve Adamu (m) on or about the 15th day of September, 2022 in Kaduna, Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit: wilfully gave false information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which information was used to carry out investigation on your complaint to the Commission, which information you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 16(2) of the same Act.
He pleaded “not guilty”, prompting the prosecution counsel, M.E. Eimonye to ask the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel urged the court to grant the defendant bail.
Justice Khobo, thereafter, ordered for the remand of the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till December 20, 2025 for hearing of the bail application.
The defendant’s road to the dock began with his petition to the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, in which he had alleged that his landlord had no visible means of livelihood, yet continually acquired costly automobiles and developed landed properties, all about town. However, investigations by the Commission proved the allegations to be false and malicious, prompting his arrest and prosecution.
Media & Publicity
November 18, 2025
SANWO-OLU CONGRATULATES WAHID OSHODI ON RE-ELECTION AS ITTF VICE PRESIDENT
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, on his re-election as the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said the re-election of Oshodi as Executive Vice President of ITTF is a testament to his leadership qualities and hard work during his first term.
Oshodi was re-elected as Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) during the continuation of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held online on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Oshodi, as the President of ATTF and Executive Vice President of ITTF, has done very well, and his performance in office earned the confidence of his colleagues and other stakeholders to re-elect him for another term.
He said, “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, I rejoice with a worthy citizen of our dear State, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, on his re-election as the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
“I believe strongly that Oshodi’s re-election as Vice President of ITTF is good news to us in Lagos, Nigeria, and Africa at large, considering the fact that he emerged among the top seven from the United States of America, China, Turkey, Australia, Ecuador, Romania and Jordan.
“He deserves to be re-elected having distinguished himself in the office of the Vice President of ITTF and in several positions he has occupied in the past at the state, national, continental and international levels.
“Oshodi has contributed immensely to the development of sports and table tennis in particular for many years and has displayed exemplary leadership and managerial skills in several positions he has held.
“We are proud of him, and we believe that he will use his position at the continental and international levels to lift the fortunes of table tennis in Nigeria and Africa and raise the bar of the sport to compete with the rest of the world.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
18 NOVEMBER 2025