*Remanded in EFCC detention facility
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
An Ibadan based business woman has been arraigned before an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining N58,458,000.00 by false pretence from her victims.
The business woman, Temitope was arraigned before Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde Olawoyin, on a four-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
The offence according to the EFCC, contravenes Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000 with one of the count charges reads: “That you, Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope ‘F’ on or about 9th April, 2021, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N23, 183, 000.00 (Twenty-three Million, One Hundred and Eight Three Thousand Naira) from Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo by falsely representing to him that the money is meant for the supply of four trucks of RC cola, Zero Cola and Coca Cola carbonated Soft drinks which pretences you knew to be false and thereby commits an offence of Obtaining Money by False Pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope ‘F’ on or about 5th June, 2021, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N17, 375, 000.00 (Seventeen Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira) from Altine Musa by falsely representing to him that the money is meant for the supply of 4,500 cartons of carbonated soft drinks at the rate of N2,750.00 per carton and 6,500 cartons of Coca-Cola 35CL at the rate of N850.00 per carton which pretences you knew to be false and thereby commits an offence of Obtaining Money by False Pretence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The business woman, Temitope however pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her
Prosecution counsel, Sanusi Musa Galandachi told the court that Temitope allegedly swindled her victims of their money under the pretext of supplying carbonated soft drinks to them and that she
fraudulently obtained the sum of N8.5million from one Idris Sheriff, N9.4million from one Ifeanyi Mmadubuike, N23.1million from one Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo and N17.3million from one Altine Musa respectively.
The Prosecution Counsel asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional Centre due to the fact that she was a flight risk and would definitely jump bail if granted, adding that she jumped an administrative bail earlier granted her by the EFCC and that there are several petitions recently received against the defendant that would soon be concluded for prosecution.
While responding to the prayers of the prosecution counsel, the defendant’s counsel, S.B. Ajibola pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail, adding that a bail application has been filed and served on the prosecution.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Olawoyin threw out the bail application filed by the defence counsel after upholding the submission of Galandachi that the defendant is a flight risk and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC detention facility pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Justice Olawoyin ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC detention facility pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The court ordered for accelerated hearing for the prosecution to open and close its case and adjourned the matter to March 14, 15 and 21, 2024 for commencement of trial.
