The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, over an alleged N1.09 billion contract fraud.
The couple appeared before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly obtained N1,098,961,500 from Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a widow and proprietor of a private school in Delta State, under the guise of financing a road construction project purportedly awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The anti-graft agency alleged that Taiwo convinced the complainant to fund the project, claiming he had secured the contract. Prosecutors said the representation was false and was used to fraudulently obtain the funds between January 2024 and November 2025.
One of the charges alleges that the money was paid into Taiwo’s Access Bank account with the understanding that it would be used to execute the road project.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants pending further proceedings.
Justice Usman adjourned the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial to June 11, 2026. He also ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.
