Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has acquitted businessman Mark Obisesan and three co-defendants—Olumide Mcintoush, Bolaji Bakare, and Goodluck Bazunu—who were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with forgery.
The quartet had been on trial since 2019, facing allegations of possessing forged traveler’s cheques and conspiring to purchase counterfeit bank notes. Throughout the lengthy proceedings, which were marked by multiple delays and adjournments, all defendants maintained their innocence.
In delivering his verdict, Justice Ijelu stated that the EFCC failed to prove the 11 counts against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. He criticized the commission’s investigation as “haphazard and woeful,” noting that the prosecution did not adequately link the defendants to the alleged crimes.
Following the ruling, Obisesan expressed both relief and frustration, remarking, “It’s sad that the EFCC chose to waste state resources on a case they knew had no merit. Such poorly investigated cases should not occupy the time of hardworking judges.” He reflected on the personal and professional toll of the five-year legal struggle, which had cost him valuable relationships and business opportunities. However, he felt a sense of vindication at finally clearing his name after such an extensive ordeal.
