The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office on Thursday August 30, 2018 arraigned Adeshina Taoheed Aderemi, Adekoya Abosede and Ishola Abiodun Kazeem before Justice R. B. Akintola of the State High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering and obtaining money by false pretence.
The syndicate journey to the dock followed a petition to the Commission from their victim (name withheld) alleging that sometimes in 2018, he paid the sum of N695, 000.00 (Six Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Naira) to the defendants through the first defendantโs (Mr. Adeshina Taoheed Aderemi) bank account, domiciled in one of the new generation banks (name withheld) for them to secure a Canadian Visa for him.
According to the petitioner, the defendants conspired and issued him a โCanadian Visaโ affixed to his International Passport.
Investigation by the EFCC confirmed that the defendants were not travel agents and that the โCanadian Visaโ issued to the complainant was fake.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty, after the charge was read to them.
In view of their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Dr. Ben Ubi, applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody.
However, defense counsel, Samuel C. Uzoewulu, informed the court that he had filed two summons for bail dated August 29, 2018 for the second and third defendants and that he only served the prosecution this morning.
He also prayed the court to allow the second defendant to remain in EFCCโs custody, pending the hearing of her bail application, considering her condition as a pregnant woman.
However, Dr. Ubi told the court that he was not aware of her condition and that he will not be objecting due to the said condition.
Justice Akintola however, adjourned the matter to September 4, 2018 for hearing of bail applications.
