EFCC Arraigns Man For Alleged N18.3m Fraud In Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, arraigned one Aladenola Pitan before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery to the tune of N18, 396,488.00 (Eighteen Million Three Hundred and Ninety-six Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-eight Naira Only).

 One of the counts reads: "Aladenola Olufunsho Pitan, between 2018 and 2019, at Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N8, 300,000 from Akinmola Olabisi Comfort by falsely representing to her that you have a property located at Rockstone Villa Estate, Badore Road, Ajah, Lagos State to sell, which representation you knew to be false."

 Another count reads: "Aladenola Olufunsho Pitan, sometime between February 2021 and November 2021 at Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use, the aggregate sum of $15,640 (Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred and Forty United States Dollar) property of Akinmola Olabisi Comfort."

He is also alleged to have, in November 2020, forged a document titled "Revenue Receipt", purported to have been issued by the Lagos State Government, and another forged document in May 2019 titled "Orudu Family", purported to have been issued by the Orudu Family.

He pleaded "not guilty" to the charges. 

The prosecution counsel, I.O. Daramola, prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre pending the commencement of trial.

 The Judge ordered the defendant to be remanded at any Correctional Centre of his choice and adjourned till June 20 and 21, 2023 for trial.