The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned a 53 -year old civil servant, Oyawoye Olajumoke Fafemi, for allegedly defrauding 23 church members seeking employment.
Fafemi, a member of staff of Kwara State Ministry of Finance, was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court, in Ilorin on Monday on four -count charge of alleged employment and Hajj pilgrimage scam.
The defendant was accused of collecting various sums of money from 23 members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Offa, Kwara State, under the guise of helping them secure employment in the Kwara State Civil Service Commission and Federal Government Parastatals.
Investigations revealed that Fafemi issued employment letters to her victims. The letters stated that her victims had been employed by Kwara State Government and Federal Government, with their grades and salaries stated. However, those letters were later discovered to be fake.
Count one of the charge reads: ” That you, Oyawoye R. Olajumoke Fafemi between the month of April and September 2019, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the gross sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Maria Only) from one Moronfoye Solomon Daramola under the pretence that you will secure government employment for his church members; a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”
Count four reads: “That you, OYAWOYE R. OLAJUMOKE FAFEMI between the month of May and August 2019, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the gross sum of N700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from one Adeoti Kamoru under the pretence that you will secure Hajj Pilgrimage visa for him; a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
When the charge was read Fafemi, he pleaded not gulity to the offence.
Based on his not gulity pleas, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Mr Andrew Akoja, urged the court to give a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case.
But the defence lawyer, A.T Yusuf, urged the court to grant his client bail, pending the determination of the case.
Justice Sani later granted Fafemi bail in the sum of N2million and two sureties in like sum . The judge also ordered Fafemi to deposit two of her passport photographs with the court.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter till November 17 for commencement of trial.
