Six internet fraudsters were on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office. They were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos.
The defendants are: Adedayo Williams Khalim; Oyeyemi Toheeb Abiodun; Kareem Abimbola; Bakare Lolade Lateef; Omolade Mayowa Solomon and Ojora Daniels.
The defendants, except one Opeyemi Toheed Abiodun were arraigned on a one-count separate charge of same offence bordering on possession of fraudulent documents except.
Abiodun was arraigned on two counts. One of the charges reads: “That you Adedayo Williams Khalim sometime in March, 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession documents containing by false pretence, which you ought to have known that the said documents contains false pretence.”
Five of the defendants pleaded not guilty while Adedayo Williams Khalim pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC.
Upon the guilty plea of Adedayo, the prosecution counsel, Idris Mohammad asked the court for a date to review the facts of the case and prayed the court to remand him in the Correctional facility.
However, prosecution counsel, Idris Mohammad asked the court for a trial date for the defendants who pleaded not guilty and prayed the court to also remand them in correctional facility pending the outcome of the case.
The defence counsels to the defendants who pleaded not guilty, T.A. Adeboye, Femi Aina, V. E. Amakri, D.O. Ogunjumi and Z.S. Makinde informed the court that they have filed applications for bail on behalf of their clients but are yet to serve the court and the prosecution.
They however prayed the court for a short date to allow them move the applications.
Justice Taiwo, after listening to both parties adjourned Khalim, Abimbola and Lateef’s matter till March 24, 2020 for hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial.
She also adjourned the matter of Daniels till March 23, 2020 for hearing of bail application while that of Solomon was adjourned till April 1, 2020 for hearing of bail application.
Similarly, Abiodun’s matter was adjourned till April 3, 2020 for hearing of bail application.
Consequently, Justice Taiwo ordered that all the defendants be remanded in Correctional facility.
