The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a couple, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, over an alleged N1.09bn contract fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice Abubakar Usman by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and retention of alleged proceeds of crime.
According to the anti-graft agency, the case stemmed from a petition filed by a widow, Anazia Kenechukwu, who accused the first defendant of inducing her to finance a road construction contract said to have been awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
The commission alleged that the defendant convinced the complainant to invest in the project, leading to the transfer of huge sums of money into his bank account.
Investigations by the EFCC reportedly revealed that about N1.98bn was paid into an account linked to the first defendant as part of the arrangement.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that the funds were diverted and used to acquire several properties in Ado-Ekiti, including a hospitality facility and a four-bedroom bungalow.
The commission told the court that it had obtained an interim forfeiture order on the properties, which it believes were acquired with proceeds of the alleged fraud.
When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, Justice Usman adjourned the matter for further hearing.
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