Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned Otobor Onajefe before an Ikeja Special Offences Court over alleged N37.4 million fraud.
Onajefe was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, contrary to Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
One of the counts stated that Otobor and Philip Onobrakpe (still at large), sometime in 2023 in Lagos, allegedly conspired to defraud Mr Omotayo Oyebanji and Mr Ernest Adeii of the sum.
The second count reads that the defendant, with others still at large, allegedly converted the sum to their personal use.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC`s counsel, Mr Temitope Banjo prayed for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
Banjo opposed the bail application, noting that although the charge had been filed earlier, the bail application was only served on the prosecution on the morning of the arraignment.
He told the court that the prosecution intended to file a reply on points of law and added that the defendant had previously been difficult to locate for arraignment.
In his response, the defence counsel, Mr Samuel Danni informed the court that a bail application dated February 6 had been filed and served on the prosecution the same morning.
Danni sought the court’s permission to move the application and requested a short adjournment date at the convenience of the court.
Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the matter until February 26 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in a correctional centre pending further proceedings.
