Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has cleared Kappo Aderinola, a former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, of all allegations in a high-profile N20.1 million fraud case.
Aderinola had faced a 30-count charge that included conspiracy, money laundering, and theft. He stood trial alongside two former NBA Ikeja chairmen, Adesina Ogunlana and Yinka Farounbi, over claims involving mismanagement of the association’s funds.
The case, which began on May 22, 2019, centered on an alleged N20.1 million. Prosecutors claimed that Aderinola and Farounbi, who were authorised signatories to the branch’s accounts at the time, signed cheques without proper approval and handed them to Ogunlana for withdrawal.
Farounbi served as chairman from 2014 to 2016, with Aderinola as treasurer during that period, while Ogunlana later led the branch between 2016 and 2018.
All three men were accused of conspiracy to steal. Ogunlana faced additional charges, including 15 counts of stealing and one count of money laundering, while Aderinola and Farounbi were jointly charged with 13 counts of stealing. Each of them denied the allegations.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case against Aderinola beyond reasonable doubt. As a result, the court discharged and acquitted him of all charges.