The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Office yesterday, arraigned a 66-year- old contractor, Joseph Oluwole Komolafe before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
Komolafe was arraigned on a one count charge bordering obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of about N31 million.
The EFCC alleged that the defendant diverted the said money from the fund meant to supply labora-tory equipment for the University of Ilorin.
The Charge against Komolafe reads: “That you, Oluwole Kamolafe being the alter ego of Destiny Work Limited, sometime in July, 2015, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did cheat Fem-imat Concepet Limited the sum of N31, 500,000.00. When you intentionally induced Femimat Concept Limited to supply laboratory equipment in respect of a contract worth N128,199,968.00 to University of Ilorin in your stead, which he would not supply but for you inducement and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Penal Code.”
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
Prosecuting Counsel, A.A Adebayo however told Justice Abdulgafar “my Lord, in view of the plea of not guilty entered by the defendant, the prosecution shall be asking for a trial day to enable us prove our case against the defendant, we are also urging your Lordship to remand the Accused Person in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Facility.”
Lead counsel to the defendant, A.O Adelodun, also told the presiding judge that they are not object-ing to the application seeking for adjournment for prosecution to open its case but are praying the court to allow us move our oral application for bail.
After the prosecuting counsel opposed the oral application for the bail of the accused, Justice Abdul-gafar turned down the oral application for bail and ordered Komolafe to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
The case has been adjourned till today, for hearing of the bail application.
