EFCC Arraigns Ajibola for Love Scam

Oluwaseyi Bankole (Grey T-shirt) and Fisayo Ajibola (Light green T-shirt)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Fisayo Ajibola before Justice O.A Ipaye of a Lagos High Court,Ikeja, on an 8-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money by false pretence.

The accused person allegedly conned one Audun Gerhardsen via Western Union by falsely representing to him that he was a white lady, Mary Morgan based in Britain. He also duped two other individuals in similar fashion. Several fraudulent documents were recovered during a raid on his home by operatives of the EFCC in Ibadan.

 

One of the charge reads: "Fisayo Ajibola on or about the 5^th day of June 2013, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division had in possession documents containing false pretence with subject-“Mary from erovie”- containing false pretence which you knew or ought to have known to be false”.

 

The second charge reads, "Fisayo Ajibola on or about the 23^rd day of October 2012 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N73,000 from one Audun Gerhardsen via Western Union with MTCN. 1507864809 by falsely representing to him that you are Mary Morgan, a white lady living in Britain which pretence you knew to be false”.

 

When the charges were read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty.

 

Based on his plea, prosecuting counsel, Zainab Ettu asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the accused person be remanded in prison custody. However, defence counsel, Sunday Ike, informed the court that he filed an application for bail and had served same to the prosecution.  He argued that the offense for which the accused person was docked was bailable.  

Justice Ipaye granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum. Each of the sureties must have a viable and meaningful means of livelihood and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.  Besides, the sureties must present three years tax clearance certificates to be confirmed through affidavit. Also, the judge said that, one of the sureties must be a relation of the accused person with a reliable contact address.

The case was adjourned till January 23, 2014 for trial.