TheCable

The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rasaq Kolawole, a permanent secretary in the Oyo state ministry of agriculture, over allegations of fraud.

Kolawole was accused of defrauding one Ibikunle Alonge of the sum of N4,400,000.

The defendant appeared before Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo state high court in Ibadan on Wednesday, on one count of obtaining money under false pretence.

The offence is said to be in contravention of Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

In a petition to the EFCC, Alonge accused Kolawole of receiving the stated amount as part payment for a piece of land at Alabata Olosoko area of Moniya, Ibadan.

According to Alonge, he discovered after making the payment that the land actually belonged to one Mrs Ali (now deceased), noting that adding efforts to get a refund were unsuccessful.

“That you, Kolawole Rasaq, on or about the 2nd of October, 2018, at Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,400,000 only from one Alonge Ibikunle through Pastor Adeyemi Fabayo by pretending that it was part payment of the cost price of eleven and a half plots of land situated, lying and being at Alabata Olokoso area, via Moniya area, Ibadan which you purported to have sold to him,” the charge sheet read.

Kolawole pleaded not guilty to the charge and Ben Ubi, the prosecution counsel, prayed the court to set a date to commence trial.

The defendant was admitted to bail on self-recognition, while the matter was adjourned to June 24 and 25 for trial.