Anti-graft Agency Arrests Businessman For Investment Fraud 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command, has arraigned the CEO of Beedel Strategic Investment Company Nigeria Limited, Odeleye Moses Oluwabukola.

Odeleye was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on a three count charge which borders on forgery, uttering of document and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N9million.

Purported contracts

The defendant, according to investigation,  approached his victim, Ololade Desmond-Eke, with a forged “Local Purchase Order” (LPO), asked for a loan of N9million, with an agreed interest of N495, 000 under the pretext of executing some purported contracts awarded to his company across the country.

However, the victim discovered, after advancing the money to the defendant, that the LPO was forged.

The Commission made the disclosure in a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday.

The statement says count one of the charge reads: “That you Odeleye Moses Oluwabukola ‘M’ and Beedel Strategic Investment Company Nigeria Limited on or about 31st of January, 2021 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N9million from Ololade Desmond-Eke by falsely representing to her that the said sum is to finance a Fan Milk Local Purchase Order (LPO) with Purchase Order Number: PO022622 which pretences you knew to be false, an offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you, Odeleye Moses Oluwabukola ‘M’ and Beedel Strategic Investment Company Nigeria Limited on or about 15th day of October, 2020 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, forged a Fan Milk Local Purchase Order (LPO) with Purchase Order Number: PO022622 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, an offence of forgery of document contrary to Section 465 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Odeleye Moses Oluwabukola ‘M’ and Beedel Strategic Investment Company Nigeria Limited on or about 31st day of January, 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, uttered a Fan Milk Local Purchase Order (LPO) with Purchase Order Number: PO022622 to one Ololade Desmond-Eke with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, an offence of altering of document contrary to Section 468 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran, informed the court that he was in court with the first prosecution witness and ready to commence the trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, Sikiru Adewoye asked the court to direct the prosecution, to make available the new evidence against the defendant to the defence, further informing the court of a pending bail application for his client and urged the court to admit the defendant to bail.

But Oyediran opposed the application on the grounds that the defendant was a ‘flight risk’, who has several pending criminal cases at both Oyo State and Federal High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Justice Owolabi, after listening to both parties, remanded the defendant and adjourned the matter till March 14, 2023, for hearing.

Lateefah Ibrahim