$4m Fraud: Suspects’ Arraignment Moved to November 30

The arraignment of suspected fraudster, Idowu Olarenwaju, alias Capt Anthony Abel Saramoh, has been adjourned to November 30, 2015. Olarenwaju and his accomplice, Joe Onwudimowei, were to be arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State today but could not take their plea as their counsel A.Adedipe pleaded for time to study the twenty-two count information brought against the accused persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

  Though prosecution counsel, Gabriel Edobor prayed the court to allow the accused person take their plea, contending that they may not be present to take their plea if allowed to go without sureties, Justice U.N Agomoh adjourned the matter to 30th November, 2015 for arraignment.

 Olarenwaju was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for defrauding an American Citizen of the sum of Four Million dollar ($4,000,000) through his company, Total Intership Nigeria Limited.

The heist was earned through a phony crude oil contracts with the victim, wiring the said amount into the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited ostensibly for the supply of crude oil. The bubble burst after the victim was left clutching the air, in an exasperating wait that ended with a petition to the EFCC.

 Onwudimowei, who operates the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) where the proceeds of the said fake contract was deposited, was arrested on 18th June, 2015 and upon interrogation, fingered Idowu Olanrewaju and one Otunba Yemi Osho as the people he handed over all monies that passed through the account.

On the 19th of June, 2015, the duo of Idowu Olanrewaju and Yemi Osho were arrested following a dawn raid on their homes by operatives of the EFCC.

According to Onwudimowei, Olanrewaju sometime in 2010, instructed him to withdraw the sum of Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 500, 000.00)  for Chief Yemi Osho. Osho, he claimed, in turn handed over the money to two people sent to him by Olarenwaju.

 This singular involvement of Osho was what made Olanrewaju confess to the fraud as he had initially denied knowing Onwudimowei. When Olanrewaju was confronted with the testimony of Osho, sources at the EFCC disclosed that he was speechless and began to plead for mercy.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity