Property Developer and Two Others Docked by EFCC Over N1.8 Billion Fraud in Kwara

A self-proclaimed estate developer, Christopher Abiola Oladunjoye, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, alongside two co-defendants, Augustine Ikechukwu Agodi and Ovie Goru, for their alleged involvement in a sprawling fraudulent scheme totaling ₦1.8 billion.

Dependable NG reports that the trio was brought before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on Thursday on separate charges. The charges revolve around the possession of funds suspected to be the proceeds of unlawful activities, an offense that contravenes and is punishable under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

The court was informed that preliminary investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that the defendants had approached a Malaysia-based businessman, Samuel Mustard Benjamin, with a proposal to exchange Malaysian Ringgit equivalent to ₦1.8 billion for the Naira equivalent. The petitioner was instructed to transfer the naira funds to accounts provided by the defendants in Nigeria, with the promise of receiving the Ringgit funds in return.

However, the funds that were transferred in Malaysia were later discovered to be proceeds from unlawful activities, leading to the money being frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Fraud Unit after a victim filed a petition. Further investigation by the EFCC uncovered that the defendants had used part of the illicit funds to acquire substantial properties, including hotels and residential buildings located in Lagos, Owerri (Imo State), and Agbor (Delta State).

Details on the total fraudulent sum revealed that Oladunjoye allegedly received the largest portion, ₦1.111 billion, while Agodi benefited from ₦432.163 million, and Goru received ₦337.3 million.

When the charges were read, which included the allegation that Oladunjoye took possession of ₦570 million from an individual named Onyeka Joseph Okeke, all three defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, the EFCC counsel requested a date for the commencement of the trial. Counsel for the defendants then moved motions for bail, arguing that the alleged offenses were bailable.

Justice Awogboro granted bail to Augustine Ikechukwu Agodi and Ovie Goru, setting the bail sum at ₦200 million each, with two sureties in like sum. The court specified stringent conditions, mandating that one surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of a Permanent Secretary, and the second surety must own a property within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in either Abuja or Kwara State.

The court has adjourned to a later date for a ruling on Christopher Abiola Oladunjoye’s bail application and for the continuation of the main hearing in the case.