The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Nigerian-American, Oluwatobi Adegoke, over an alleged $320,000 vehicle import fraud involving two victims.

Adegoke was arraigned on Thursday, October 8, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on a one-count charge of stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The EFCC said preliminary investigations indicated that Adegoke allegedly belonged to a United States-based syndicate that defrauded Nigerians under the guise of purchasing and importing vehicles from America.

According to the commission, Adegoke allegedly advertised a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria, claiming he could purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them.

The investigation reportedly found that two victims paid a combined sum of more than $320,000, equivalent to about N434.88m, in connection with the transaction.

However, the charge filed against Adegoke alleged that he dishonestly converted $680,000 belonging to Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike for personal use in December 2024.

The charge stated that the money was transferred to the bank account of Adegoke’s company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G-Wagon.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Arazeem Adebayo, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and fix a date for trial.

Defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, asked the court to keep Adegoke in EFCC custody pending the filing of his bail application, but the judge rejected the request.

Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until January 13, 2027, for trial.

The EFCC said Adegoke was arrested by operatives of its Ilorin Zonal Directorate in July 2026 over the alleged cross-border fraud.

LUKMAN ABDULMALIK
Latest posts by LUKMAN ABDULMALIK (see all)
Advertisement

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR