By Joseph Onyekwere

A Federal High Court, Lagos has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Joshua Adeyinka Kayode, a 22-year-old defendant, who is standing trial for allegedly defrauding over 170 investors of N10.7 billion through a sham investment scheme.

Police had last August arraigned Kayode before Justice Tijjani Ringim of the Federal High Court.

The defendant was arraigned alongside his company, Quintessential Investment Company Limited on a 170-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

However, when the matter came up last Friday before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the defendant was absent.

This led the judge to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant. The matter was adjourned to March 25, 2022.

Justice Oweibo had admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties in the like sum.

The sureties must be landed property owners within the court’s jurisdiction and were to depose to an affidavit of means.