Emmanuel Ukudolo I Tuesday, January 14, 2025
IKEJA, Lagos – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption in the society appears steeped in corruption and it will take ages to purge the system of corrupt officials based on revelation before Justice O.A. Okunuga of an Ikeja High Court.
The EFCC had arrested Vincent, not his real name at one of the old generation Bank upon his return from Georgia where he works as a businessman and musician and charged him to court in Charge Nos. ID/10280C/19.
According to the particulars of offence, the suspect in September 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court and with intent to defraud dishonestly received through MoneyGram the sum of $287 from Jerry Shepherd, money which you ought to have reasonably known to have been fraudulently obtained and represented proceeds of cybercrime activities.
The prosecutors are A.B.C Ozioko, M.K. Bashir, Oluwakemi Yemi-Makinde and Ebuka S. Okongwu.
At the time of his arrest in Akure before his transfer to Lagos officials of the commission collected two Samsung phones from him, Samsung S7H, which he bought for $1100 and Samsung Note 9, perused the phones and emails for incriminating evidence but found nothing.
While being led in evidence by his lawyer, Akinrata Adelanke, the witness told the court that at the point of his release after spending six months in EFCC custody, he requested for his phones but the EFCC only gave him his Samsung Note 9 and that the Samsung S7H is no where to be found and they asked him to enter plea bargain, which he turned down since he did not commit any offence.
He told the court that after telling the EFCC officials that he knows nothing about the alleged fraud that his name was just used for Credit card fraud he requested that he be brought before the primary suspect, Jerry Shepherd so he could be identified to clear their doubts but they turned down his request.
Ironically, documents front loaded before the court certified as true copy by the EFCC showed the confessions of the Prime suspect, Durowoju Oluwatosin as follows:
“The name of my pickin is Bola. He is the one that usually collect identity card of Abiodun David who now lives in Abeokuta. The 85 million dollar Bank of America cheque is fake and made by me to deceive. Jerry Shepherd and( Vincent, not the real name) is fake name we use as an identity”.
His lawyer is angry that since 2019, EFCC prosecutors have not made appearance in the matter knowing they misfired.
They also wrote to court requesting hearing for today 15/1/25 but again failed to show up.
After hearing applications from his lawyer, including one to strike out the suit for want of diligent prosecution,Justice Okunuga ruled that notice of hearing be served on the EFCC and adjourned to February 19, 2025.
