EFCC Arraigns Woman, Firm for Alleged Theft

Matilda Omonaiye/

A businesswoman has been dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after allegedly obtaining N43,500,000 from an investor under false pretence.

NewsmakersNG learnt from the Ibadan zonal office of EFCC, that Iyabo Ruth Okoh and her company, Mega Bolex Quarry Ltd were arraigned before Hon. Justice A. N. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, on a 2-count charge bordering on  stealing and obtaining money under false pretense.

According to the EFCC, the journey to the dock for Mrs Okoh followed a petition to the Commission alleging that “sometimes in March, 2016, she invited the petitioner (name withheld) to invest in her company, Mega Bolex Quarry Ltd as a shareholder and thereafter be issued a share certificate”.

According to the petition, after  paying the sum of N43,500,000  to the defendant through her company’s account, she refused to issue the share certificate nor grant her access to the company’s affairs as earlier agreed and no  refund of  the money already paid.

The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

In view of the plea of the defendant, the EFCC’s counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi prayed the court for a trial and for the remand of the first defendant in prison custody. However, counsel to the defendants, Adeyinka Adeyemi informed the court that he has an application seeking the first defendant bail. He thereafter prayed the court to remand the defendant in the EFCC’s custody. Dr, Ubi however, opposed the defense prayer on the grounds that the proper place of custody after arraignment is the prison.

Justice Akintola however, advised the defendant to at least make some refund of the money involved. He thereafter, adjourned the case to July 2, 2018 for hearing of the bail application. Meanwhile, the defendant shall be remanded at the Federal Prison, Agodi, pending the hearing and determination of her bail application.

Count one reads: “That you, Iyabo Ruth Okoh and Mega Bolex Quarry Ltd between  15th August, 2016 and 13thMarch, 2017, at Ibadan within the Ibadan judicial Division of this honourable Court, with intent to defraud Obtained the sum of Thirty Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand  Naira (N34,574,000.00) only from one Adekunbi Sherifa Adeyemi by falsely pretending that it is the  cost of shares purportedly sold to her from your company, Mega Bolex Quarry Ltd which representations you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.”

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