The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dragged a husband and wife before the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti over their alleged involvement in a N1.09bn fraud case.
The defendants, identified as Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, were arraigned by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate before Justice Abubakar Usman on six counts related to alleged fraud and possession of suspected proceeds of crime.
According to the anti-graft agency, the case stemmed from a petition submitted by a widow, Anazia Kenechukwu, who accused the couple of deceiving her in a purported road construction contract deal.
The commission alleged that Taiwo convinced the complainant to invest funds in a road project he claimed had been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission.
Investigations by the EFCC reportedly revealed that the complainant transferred huge sums of money into the first defendant’s bank account in anticipation of returns from the contract.
Court documents indicated that about N1.98bn was paid into an Access Bank account belonging to Taiwo during the course of the transaction.
The commission further alleged that part of the money was channelled into the acquisition of properties in Ado-Ekiti, including a recreational facility and a four-bedroom residential building.
The EFCC told the court that it had already secured an interim forfeiture order covering the assets suspected to have been purchased with funds linked to the alleged fraud.
When the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the matter to a later date for the commencement of trial.