EFCC Arraigns Two for €88, 000 Internet Scam

Two suspects were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today for defrauding a Dutch citizen of over €88,000 in an Internet romance scam.

Ajani Isaac Adedotun (a.k.a. Clara Williams and Lara Williams) and Adesina Segun Adedeji appeared before Justice A.D. Oladimeji of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ede, on a 50-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

The victim was identified as M. Wassink, a Dutch citizen.

One of the counts reads: “Ajani Isaac Adedotun (a.k.a Clara Williams, Lara Williams) and Adesina Segun Adedeji, on or about the 5th day of March, 2014 at Ile Ife, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of €23,000 (Twenty-three Thousand Euro) through Adesina Segun Adedeji’s Skye Bank account from M. Wassink, under the false pretence that you are a female from Belgium and had travelled to Nigeria to buy some gemstones and bracelets and that the said sum of money represented fees for the officials securing the gemstones for you, which representation you knew to be false.”

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Vera Agboje, asked the Court for a trial date and prayed the Court to remand the accused in prison custody.

Counsel to the accused persons, Sanyaolu S. Akinyele and T. S. Adegboyega, respectively prayed the Court to grant their clients bail.

Justice Oladimeji adjourned the case to May 16, 2017 for hearing of the bail applications and ordered the accused to be remanded in Ilesa prison custody.