By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned a suspect, Obakin Emmanuel Ajibola before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, over alleged stealing of N251,685,000.
Arraigning the suspect on a four count charge bordering on alleged stealing of N251,685,000 belonging to a firm, Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited, EFCC said Obakin committed the alleged offence in December, 2022 in Ibadan
EFCC stated that Obakin who was one of the two directors of Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited and signatory to the company’s account, allegedly withdrew the above sum from Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited without authorization and consent of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akindele Fajemiyo who is also signatory to the company’s account.
The anti graft commission stressed that the defendant allegedly removed the telephone numbers and email address of the MD/CEO of the company from the bank details of Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited, through which notification alerts of transactions were received to enable him keep track of the account.
Obakin, afterwards withdrew the said sum from the account of the firm, which was money paid for works executed by Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited for the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture between December 22, 2022 and March 9, 2023 without any notification received by Fajemiyo.
Upon arraignment, Obakin pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him by the EFCC, while the prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran upon the not guilty plea by the defendant, asked the court for a trial date and as well prayed the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
However, Counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Lawal urged the court to admit his client to bail.
Justice Ladiran Akintola in his ruling granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties, preferably the wife and younger brother to the defendant, in like sum.
Justice Akintola stated that, “the sureties are to swear an affidavit of means, deposit their National Identification Slip with the court and provide the court with adequate residential addresses”.
Also, the court ordered that the defendant provides the court with his National Identification Slip and residential addresses.
The matter was adjourned till October 23, 2023 for further hearing.
One of the charges against the defendant read: “That you Obakin Emmanuel Ajibola, adult, male sometime in December, 2022 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently steal the sum of N120, 500, 000.00 (One Hundred and twenty million, five hundred thousand Naira) belonging to Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited, an offence of stealing contrary to Section 390(9) Criminal Code Law.”
