EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged $22,300 Fraud

The Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday April 19, 2018 arraigned one Oluokun Gabriel Adekola of Kolanifemi New Era Foods Nig. Enterprises, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense and money laundering to the tune of 22, 300 US Dollars. The offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Section 17(1), (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 17(1) (b) of the same Act.
The defendant, Oluokun allegedly diverted the sum of 22, 300 US Dollars (Twenty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred United States Dollars) transferred to him by one Taiwanese lady (name withheld) who resides in China for the supply of 100metric tons of sesame seeds. The defendant after collecting the sums, failed to transact the business as agreed but allegedly diverted the sum for a different purpose.
The defendant however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sanusi Galadanchi asked for a trial date. However, the defense counsel, Akim Maisolati informed the court of an application for bail dated 10th April, 2018 before the court. The prosecution however, did not oppose the application for bail.
Justice Abdulmalik admitted the defendant to bail with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira and one surety in like sum. The surety shall be a Civil Servant in the Oyo State Civil Service not below Grade level 15. The surety shall be a land owner of a developed land and the certificate of occupancy of the land shall be verified by the registrar of the court at the land registry, Ibadan. The surety shall depose to an affidavit of means with his passport photograph attached. The defendant shall be remanded in the Agodi prison pending the perfection of his bail application.
The case is adjourned to May 7, 2018 for trial.