EFCC Docks Aide To Ex-Kwara Senator Over N6.5m Fraud

Segun Emmanuel Oni, a Personal Assistant to former Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, Senator Simeon Ajibola was on Wednesday, 6th April 2022 arraigned for criminal breach of trust and fraud to the tune of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N6.500,000.00) only.

Oni (42), from Isapa in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, was arraigned before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on a two-count charge contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 312 of the same Penal Code.

Oni was allegedly entrusted with two Toyota Siena minibuses and one Toyota Rav4 by Mr Samson Adewoye, which he sold and converted the proceeds to personal use.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, urged the court to fix a date for trial to enable the Commission to prove its case. He also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre pending trial.

But, the defence counsel, Rasaq Ayodeji Saka, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.

Justice Oyinloye granted bail to the defendant in the sum of an N2million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two recent passports to the court.

The case has been adjourned to 17th May 2022 for commencement of trial.

In another development, The Commission secured the conviction of three persons charged before a Federal High Court and Kwara State High Court in Ilorin for offences bordering on cybercrime.

The convicts, Abdulrahman Abdulmateen, a barber from Omun-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and Oyeniyi Bukola Peter from Ila Local Government Area of Osun State and Abdulazeez Mubarak from Mushin Area of Lagos State.

While Abdulrahman and Oyeniyi were prosecuted before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Abdulazeez was tried before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the State High Court both in Ilorin.

The defendants, who were prosecuted on separate charges, pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Following their pleas, Innocent Mbachie and Sesan Ola who represented the Commission in the three cases urged the court to consider the plea of guilt, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, and other exhibits tendered and hold that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. They prayed the court to convict them as charged.

Justice Sani sentenced Abdulrahman to six months imprisonment with the option of a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) only.

The judge ordered that one apple iPhone x recovered from the convict at the point of arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government. The court also ordered the restitution of the sum of $50 (Fifty US Dollars) which is the proceeds of the unlawful activities by the convict.

In the same vein, Justice Sani sentenced Oyeniyi to six months imprisonment with an option of a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) only.

The court ordered that one iPhone x plus, Dell laptop and Lexus 300 car procured with the proceeds of unlawful activities by the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government.

For Abdulazeez, Justice Akinpelu pronounced a prison term of six months with an option of a fine of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) only. The convict will also forfeit one iPhone 12 ProMax, which he used to perpetrate the crime and one 2008 Toyota Corolla Car which he bought with the proceeds of the crime to the Federal Government.