The Ibadan
Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has
arraigned Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope before an Oyo State High
Court for allegedly obtaining N58, 458, 000.00 (Fifty-eight Million, Four
Hundred and Fifty-eight Thousand Naira) by false pretence from her
victims.
She was
arraigned on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, before the court presided over by
Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde Olawoyin, on a four count-charge of obtaining by
false pretence, an offence that contravenes Section 419 of the Criminal Code
Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
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.”
She pleaded
not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
Responding to
her pleas, prosecution counsel, Sanusi Musa Galandachi told the court that the
defendant allegedly swindled her victims of their money under the pretext of
supplying carbonated soft drinks to them.
He
specifically told the court that Temitope 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.
Consequently,
he 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. He disclosed that she jumped an
administrative bail earlier granted her by the EFCC.
He further
added that there are several petitions recently received against the defendant
that would soon be concluded for prosecution.
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.
Also, the
court ordered for accelerated hearing for the prosecution to open and close its
case.
The matter was adjourned to March 14, 15 and 21, 2024 for commencement of trial.
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