EFCC charges Ibadan businesswoman over alleged N58m fraud

Ajayi Oluwabukola Temitope has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal Command for allegedly using false pretences to gain N58,458,000 from her victims. The case was heard in an Oyo State High Court.

The Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, Section 419, prohibits obtaining by false pretence. On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the Commission, was arraigned before the court chaired by Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde Olawoyin. This is a four-count charge.

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.”

When the allegations were read to her, she entered a not guilty plea.

Prosecution attorney Sanusi Musa Galandachi responded to the defendant's pleas by informing the court that the defendant had allegedly defrauded her victims of their money by pretending to provide them carbonated soft drinks.

In particular, he informed the court that Temitope had illegally stolen N8.5 million from an Idris Sheriff, N9.4 million from an Ifeanyi Mmadubuike, N23.1 million from an Alhaji Yusuf Nadabo, and N17.3 million from an Altine Musa.

As a result, he begged the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional Centre and requested a trial date, citing the fact that she posed a flight risk and would undoubtedly breach her bond if allowed.

He said that she had previously been given administrative bail by the EFCC, which she had jumped.  He went on to say that the prosecution would shortly be wrapping up on a number of petitions that had been filed recently against the defendant.

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