From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan.
An admission racketeer, Fakunle Ganiyu Abiola has been arraigned before Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan on one count charge of obtaining under false pretence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command said Fakunle, sometime in 2017 had promised to assist his victim secure admission into a US university for a fee of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N800, 000).
But after collecting a deposit of N300, 000, the victim neither got the promised admission or a refund of the deposit paid, the EFCC averred
A statement signed by the Commission’s Head,Media and Publicity ,Wilson Uwujaren quoted the charge against the defendant ,thus, “ That you Fakunle Ganiyu Abiola on 6th of December,2017, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) ) only from Oladejo Timothy Olusola, through your account domiciled at United Bank for Africa Plc, with account number 2013788397, when you falsely represented to him that you can secure admission for him at a university in the United States of America, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.”
The offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. Fakunle pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
Arising from the plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sanusi Galadanchi told the court that he was ready for trial to commence but the defendant, through his counsel, asked for a date for the consideration of his bail application.
Justice Taiwo adjourned the case until August 19, 2021 for hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in the EFCC custody.
