The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-proclaimed native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, over an alleged N1.09 billion contract fraud.
The couple was brought before Justice Abubakar Usman on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants were arrested following a petition filed by a widow and private school proprietor in Delta State, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu. She alleged that Taiwo convinced her to invest in a road construction project which he claimed had been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The petitioner told investigators that she paid large sums of money into Taiwo’s Access Bank account after being assured that the funds would be used to execute the contract.
EFCC investigations reportedly revealed that a total of N1.98 billion was paid into the account linked to the first defendant during the period under review.
The commission further alleged that proceeds from the suspected fraud were used to acquire two properties in Ado-Ekiti. The assets include Town Tavern Lounge located along Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, and a four-bedroom bungalow situated at Florence Court, Irewolede Estate.
The EFCC disclosed that it had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on the two properties on May 25, 2026.
One of the charges stated that between January 2024 and November 2025, the defendants allegedly obtained N1,098,961,500 from Kenechukwu by falsely claiming the money would be used for a DESOPADEC road construction contract, a representation the prosecution said was knowingly false.
When the charges were read in court, Taiwo and Omotola pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants pending further proceedings.
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Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the case until June 11, 2026, for the hearing of the defendants’ bail application and the commencement of trial.
The court also ordered that the couple be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of their bail request.
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