The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a couple, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged ₦1.09bn 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 obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Monday, the commission said the defendants allegedly conspired to defraud a widow, Anazia Kenechukwu, following a failed road construction contract deal.
According to the charge sheet, the first defendant allegedly approached the complainant to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
It stated that a total sum of ₦1.98bn was paid into the first defendant’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc under the arrangement.
Investigators told the court that the funds were allegedly diverted and used to acquire properties in Ado-Ekiti, including a lounge and a four-bedroom bungalow.
The EFCC also disclosed that it had secured an interim order for the seizure of the properties believed to be proceeds of the alleged crime.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court adjourned the case for further hearing.
