The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a couple, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged N1.09bn contract scam.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC brought the defendants before Justice Abubakar Usman on Monday on a six-count charge. The charges border on obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired to defraud a widow, Anazia Kenechukwu, after a purported road contract deal went sour. The petition stated that Taiwo approached the complainant to finance a road construction contract said to have been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission.
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Investigators alleged that N1,980,000,000 was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc as part of the arrangement. The funds were allegedly diverted and used to acquire properties in Ado-Ekiti, including a lounge and a four-bedroom bungalow.
The EFCC told the court it had secured an interim order for the seizure of the properties believed to be proceeds of the crime. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court adjourned the matter for further hearing.
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