The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola, over an alleged contract scam amounting to over N1 billion. The couple appeared before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge that includes obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Petition from a School Proprietor
According to the EFCC, trouble began when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, who owns a private school in Delta State, filed a petition. She alleged that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract that he claimed was awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC). Kenechukwu stated that a total sum of N1.9 billion was paid into Taiwo's account with Access Bank Plc.
Investment in Properties
The EFCC further alleged that the couple used the proceeds from the illicit activities to acquire two properties in Ado-Ekiti: Town Tavern Lounge at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, and a four-bedroom bungalow on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate. On May 25, 2026, the Commission secured an interim attachment of these properties.
Details of the Charge
On count two, the EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, stated: “That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin, with intent to defraud, received funds from Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, paid into Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that the money would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded by DESOPADEC, a pretence you knew to be false. This constitutes an offence under Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Plea and Adjournment
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read. Following their pleas, the EFCC counsel requested a trial date and the remand of the defendants. Justice Usman adjourned the matter to Thursday, June 11, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial. The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.
