Dele Olaosebikan
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal Command on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 arraigned the owner of De Rock Club, an Ibadan-based club, Adepoju Olawale Sunday (popularly known as SSG) before Justice Uche Agomoh of a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Adepoju Olawale Sunday was arraigned on two separate charges over his alleged involvement in cybercrime and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of Thirty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand Naira (N31, 821, 000.00) only.
The first charge, containing eight counts, bordering on identity theft, obtaining COVID-19 and unemployment benefits from the United States of America Government, while the other 19-count charge is premised on the transfer of proceeds of crime to one Owoade Emmanuel David.
EFCC investigations reportedly revealed that Adepoju, 36, who claimed to be a graduate of Industrial Chemistry of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State had, during the COVID-19 pandemic swindled the American government and unsuspecting American citizens thousands of dollars.
He allegedly stole the identities of the American citizens eligible for the tax refund programme across the U.S. and filed the stolen information to claim the benefits.
Investigations also showed that Adepoju through the US Small Business Administration (SBA), a programme established in New York City during COVID-19 to help Americans build resilient businesses, stole personal identifying information of American citizens which he deployed in filing false benefits claims.
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Mabas Mabur asked the court for a trial date and a remand of the defendant pending the determination of the case.
However, counsel to the defendant, Olaniyi George informed the court that he has filed two separate bail applications on behalf of his client and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.
However, Mabur prayed the court to reject the applications on the grounds that the defendant is a flight risk who has pending charges against him in other law courts.
Justice Agomoh adjourned the suit till 18th April 2023 for ruling and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Agodi correctional facility.
The defendant was arrested on 31 August 2022, alongside 21 other suspected internet fraudsters, in an intelligence-driven operation carried out by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC.
He was arrested with a 2020 Range Rover HSE Sports Utility Vehicle, an iPhone 13 Pro Max and Hp laptop, among others.
Eighteen-Eleven Media