The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a couple, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, over an alleged N1.09 billion fraud involving a widow who was reportedly persuaded to finance a purported road construction contract.
The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement published on its official X account on June 8, 2026.
What the EFCC is saying
According to the EFCC, the defendants were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court on a six-count charge bordering on:
- Obtaining money by false pretence.
- Retaining proceeds of crime.
- Other offences alleged to be contrary to the provisions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004.
The Commission alleged that the couple induced the victim, a widow, to part with substantial sums of money under the claim that the funds would be used to execute a road construction contract.
Details of the allegations
The EFCC stated that investigations revealed the defendants allegedly received and retained funds totaling approximately N1.09 billion, which prosecutors claim were obtained through fraudulent representations.
According to the charge, the funds were purportedly solicited from the victim for a contract project that investigators allege was misrepresented.
Court proceedings
At the arraignment, the charges were read to the defendants, who entered pleas before the court.
The prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants pending further proceedings, while defence counsel sought bail on behalf of the accused persons.
Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the matter for further hearing and consideration of the bail applications.
What you should know
Under Nigerian law, criminal allegations remain allegations until proven in court. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case forms part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute alleged financial crimes, advance fee fraud, and other economic offences across the country.
