The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday, February 28, 2018,
arraigned the duo of Ebiesuwa Abayomi Fredrick and Tinuola Idayat
Oyegunle before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court
sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on a two-count charge bordering on
obtaining money by false pretence.
The defendants were arraigned
following a petition submitted to the Commission by a complainant,
alleging that they masterminded the infamous dollar scheme to entrap
her.
According to the complainant,
sometimes in May 2013, she boarded a taxi with three other passengers
who were purportedly members of a syndicate who specialized in
hoodwinking unsuspecting victims with an impending danger. She alleged
that she heard the three passengers arguing about a Ghana-must-go bag
filled with US Dollars in the boot of the car.
She added that one of the syndicate
told her that she must be cleansed to avert sudden and mysterious death
having heard their discussion. At that point, she was taken to an
unknown destination where she subsequently started giving the
defendants, and the other members of the syndicate different sums in
cash and bank payment totaling N53, 713, 260.00, which she allegedly got
from the sale of her properties in both Ibadan and Lagos.
Meanwhile preliminary investigations
revealed that over nine million naira (N9.1m) was paid to the second
defendant, Tinuola Idayat Oyegunle account domicile in one of the third
generation banks apart from other funds traced to the first defendant,
Ebiesuwa Abayomi Fredrick personal account from the victim.
It was also discovered that he has built a hotel located at Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State from the proceeds of the crime.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
The defendants accepted to take their
plea without a legal representative. In view of their plea, prosecution
counsel, Adeola Elumaro, prayed the court for a trial date and urged the
court to remand the defendants in prison custody.
Justice Abdulmalik however, ordered
that the defendants be remanded in the Federal Prison, Agodi. She
thereafter, directed the defendants to get a legal representative by the
next adjournment or else the court will get one for them.
The case is adjourned to 19th March, 2018 for trial.
EFCC Press Release
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