Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged N1.09 billion contract fraud.
EFCC
The couple were arraigned by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC before Justice Abubakar Usman on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.
EFCC alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained N1,098,961,500 from a widow and proprietor of a private school in Delta State, Mrs Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, under the guise of executing a road construction contract purportedly awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
According to the anti-graft agency, the complainant petitioned the commission after Taiwo allegedly approached her to finance the contract project.
The commission said investigations revealed that a total of N1.98 billion was paid into Taiwo’s account with Access Bank during the period under investigation.
EFCC further alleged that proceeds from the fraud were used to acquire two properties in Ado-Ekiti, including a hospitality facility known as Town Tavern Lounge located along Ikere Road and a four-bedroom bungalow at Irewolede Estate.
The commission had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on the two properties pending the conclusion of investigations and prosecution.
One of the charges alleged that the defendants, between January 2024 and November 2025, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500 from the complainant by falsely claiming the money would be used to execute a DESOPADEC road contract.
The EFCC said the representation was false and constituted an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
When the charges were read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Sesan Ola, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants pending the determination of their bail application.
Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the case until June 11 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending further proceedings.
