Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The Ibadan xonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Permanent Secretary in the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Rasaq Kolawole, for allegedly defrauding one Ibikunle Alonge of N4.4 million.
Kolawole was arraigned before Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the state High Court yesterday on one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The offence is against Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
THISDAY learnt that the victim of the alleged crime had written a petition to the anti-graft body in which he accused the top public servant of fraudulently collecting the money from him as part payment for a piece of land situated at Alabata Olosoko area of Moniya, Ibadan.
He further alleged that it was after making the payment that he knew that the land actually belonged to one Mrs. Ali (now deceased), adding that all efforts to get a refund thereafter was unsuccessful.
The one-count charge read: “That you, Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq, on or about October 2, 2018, in Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,400,000 (Four Million and Four Hundred Thousand Naira only) from one Alonge Ibikunle through Pastor Adeyemi Fabayo by falsely pretending that it was part payment of the cost price of 11 and half plots of land situated at Alabata Olokoso area via Moniya area in Ibadan which you purported to have sold to him.”
However, Kolawole pleaded not guilty to the charge, and in view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, prayed the court for a date for the commencement of trial.
Justice Aderemi then admitted the defendant to bail on self- recognizance, and adjourned the matter to June 24 and 25, 2020, for trial.
