$1.4m Internet Fraud: Court Denies US Convict Bail

Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has dismissed a bail application filed by an ex-convict, Kolawole Erinle, who is currently being prosecuted for an alleged $1.4 million internet fraud before him.

Justice Oshodi refused to grant the defendant bail on the ground that he had a previous criminal record and might not surrender himself for trial if the court ruled in his favour.

Erinle and his company, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge of conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $1,410,000.

The defendants were initially arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the same court on March 11, 2022, but the trial could not continue before the retirement of the judge.

The development led to the reassignment of the case to Justice Oshodi, before whom the case started afresh on October 28, 2022.

The defendant was alleged to have defrauded the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, KCUMB, in the US of the said sum.

Erinle pleaded not guilty when he was re-arraigned before Justice Oshodi

In his ruling on the bail application, the judge held, “it is obvious that the bail documentations of the sureties were not agreed by my noble lord, Justice Taiwo before she retired.

“The defence counsel has now urged me to re-admit the defendant to bail with the same sureties as the bail has now been documented.’’

The judge has adjourned the case to May 15 for the defendant to open a defence.