EFCC Re-Arraigns 61-Year Old Doctor Over N36.5 Million Fraud

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, February 6th, 2014

Ayo Balogun, Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a 61-year-old medical doctor, Michael Adekunle, over alleged $243,500 (N36.5 million) fraud.

The medical doctor was arraigned on Thursday at the Ikeja High Court on a 6-count charge of conspiracy and collecting money under false pretences.

Adekunle had earlier been charge June 19, 2012, before Justice Aishat Opesanwo. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted a N2 million bail. His re-arraignment was necessitated by Opesanwo’s transfer to the Lagos Island Division of the Lagos State High Court.

EFCC’s lawyer, Mrs Fadeke Giwa, prayed the court to order Adekunle to retake his plea, which the court granted, with the EFCC’s counsel alleging that the defendant (Adekunle) committed the offences between October 2009 and November 2010 in Lagos.

According to her the medical doctor connived with one Samuel Nwankwo, who had now been convited and Alhaji Atta, still at large, to collect $243,500 from one Mr. Collins Turhobo, adding that the defendant obtained the money under the ploy that it represented charge and logistics for processing of a $5 million loan he had secured for Turhobo.

Adekunle pleaded not guilty of the offences. The judge released him on the earlier bail he got from the court and adjourned the case to March 4, 2014.