EFCC arraigns Nigerian-American over alleged $320,000 vehicle import fraud
EFCC arraigns Nigerian-American over alleged $320,000 vehicle import fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Oluwatobi Adegoke, a Nigerian-American, over an alleged $320,000 vehicle import fraud.
In a statement issued on Monday, the EFCC said Adegoke was arraigned on Thursday, October 8, before Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, a judge of the special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos, on a one-count charge of stealing.
Adegoke was arrested in July by operatives of the EFCC’s Ilorin zonal directorate over the alleged fraud, involving more than $320,000, equivalent to about N434.88 million.
The commission said preliminary investigations suggested that Adegoke was part of a US-based syndicate that allegedly defrauded Nigerians by promising to buy and import vehicles from the United States.
According to the EFCC, Adegoke allegedly advertised a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria while living in the US, claiming he could purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them.
The commission said two victims allegedly paid a combined sum of more than $320,000 in connection with the transaction.
The charge alleged that Adegoke dishonestly converted $680,000 belonging to Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike for his personal use in December 2024.
The money was reportedly transferred to the bank account of his company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, to purchase a 2022 G-Wagon from a person identified as Mr Robinson.
Adegoke pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, Arazeem Adebayo, EFCC counsel, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the suspect in a correctional centre.
Olalekan Abiodun, defence counsel, asked the court to remand Adegoke in EFCC custody pending the filing of his bail application.
The judge rejected the request after earlier overruled the defence counsel’s objection to the arraignment.
The judge ordered that Adegoke be remanded at the Kirikiri correctional centre and adjourned the case until January 13, 2027, for trial.
