EFCC arraigns Nigerian-American over alleged $320,000 vehicle import fraud

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

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Mr Adegoke was arraigned on 8 October before trial judge Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on one counts of stealing.

He denied EFCC’s allegations, by pleading not guilty to the charge.

According to a statement on Monday by EFCC, the agency arrested him in July over allegations that he was involved in a syndicate operating from the United States.

The commission alleged that Mr Adegoke advertised a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria while living in the US, claiming he could purchase and ship the vehicle to them. Two alleged victims allegedly paid a combined sum of more than $320,000.

The EFCC earlier announced his arrest in June, identifying him as Adegoke Oluwatobi Adams. Reports at the time said Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike allegedly paid $145,000 through an intermediary, while Godson Azubuike Amans allegedly paid $175,000 towards the vehicle purchase.

However, the charge read in court refers to $680,000 allegedly belonging to Mr Ifeabunike.

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It accused Mr Adegoke of dishonestly converting the money after it was transferred to the account of his company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G-Wagon from a person identified as Mr Robinson.

The EFCC’s statement did not explain the difference between the $320,000 cited in its account of the alleged fraud and the $680,000 stated in the charge. It also did not reconcile the different vehicle models mentioned.

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After the defendant entered his plea, EFCC lawyer, Arazeem Adebayo, asked the court to remand him in a correctional centre and fix a date for trial.

Defence lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, asked that his client be kept in EFCC custody pending the filing of a bail application. The commission said the court rejected the request.

Mrs Abike-Fadipe ordered that Mr Adegoke be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

She adjourned the case until 13 January 2027 for trial.