EFCC Arraigns Lagos Ex-Scholarship Board Boss over N127million Fraud

EFCC Arraigns Lagos Ex-Scholarship Board Boss over N127million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on July 2, 2020, arraigned Stephen Oshinowo, a former Executive Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, for alleged N127m fraud before Justice O.A. Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State.

He was arraigned on amended eight-count charges bordering on criminal conversion to the tune of N127,000,000( One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million Naira only).

One of the amended eight-count charge read: “That you, Stephen Oshinowo, sometime in 2018, in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a civil servant, dishonourably converted to the use of Oshinowo Adenike the total sum of N30 million (Thirty Million Naira), property of Lagos State Board.”

Another count read: “That you, Stephen Oshinowo, between 8th day of February, 2016 and 30th day of December in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being the Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, dishonestly converted to your own use, through Julikam International Limited, the sum of N39, 934,919 (Thirty -Nine Million Nine Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand Nine Hundred and Nineteen Naira) property of Lagos State Board.”

Investigation revealed that Oshinowo, at various times, allegedly diverted to his personal use the sum of N127, 164,066 meant for the Board.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Usman Buhari, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed for the remand of the defendant. However, defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN, prayed the court for a short adjournment to hear the bail application of his client.

Consequently, Justice Taiwo adjourned till July 3, 2020, hearing of the bail application, and also ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

02/07/2020

Court Convicts Three Fraudsters in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of three internet fraudsters before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos.

One of the convicts, Adeluwoye Oluwaseun Idris was sentenced to 20 hours of community service in the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

He was prosecuted on a two-count charge, bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence.

One of the counts read: “That you, Adeluwoye Oluwaseun Idris, on or about the 13th day of June, 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a document containing false pretence titled “Google Account,” wherein you held yourself out as one Cynthia Joubert and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

He pleaded guilty to the charge, following which prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict him as charged.

Earlier on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, the judge convicted and sentenced Onakoya Olajide, to one month imprisonment with an option of 20 hours of community service at the EFCC office. Similarly, he was prosecuted on a two-count charge, bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the counts read: “That you, Onakoya Olajide, sometime in June 2020, at Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a document containing false pretences to wit: “Bank of America,” which document you knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Following the defendant’s guilty plea to the charges, prosecution counsel, S. O. Daji, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict him as charged.

Also convicted and sentenced by Justice Solebo few days ago is one Oluwafemi Paul, who bagged three months imprisonment, with N50, 000 option of fine. The convict was prosecuted on a two-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the counts read: “That you, Oluwafemi Paul, on or about the 17th day of June 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a document titled “Internal Revenue Service” (Certificate of Cash Grant), which representations you knew or ought to have known was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Following the guilty plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, S. O. Daji, reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict him.

Justice Solebo convicted and sentenced him accordingly.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

02/07/2020