Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope before an Oyo State High Court for allegedly obtaining N58,458,000 by false pretence from her victims.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, Dele Oyewale, in a statement said 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 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 commit 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 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 N8.5 million from one Idris Sheriff, N9.4million from one Ifeanyi Mmadubuike, N23.1 million from one Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo and N17.3 million 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 because she was a flight risk and would definitely jump bail if granted.
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 had 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 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.
