The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a 56-year-old car dealer, Rasaq Abolaji Mumini, and Mrs. Lawal Olawande Mariam for allegedly selling a forfeited property without due authorization and obtaining money under false pretense.
According to a statement released by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Command on Tuesday, the defendants were arraigned on two-count charges before Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
The charges allege that the defendants sold a four-bedroom apartment situated at Dubere in Ogbomosho, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, without lawful authorization. The property was under attachment by the EFCC.
The statement further revealed that investigations uncovered that Mrs. Lawal Olawande Mariam, the wife of the property owner, Mr. Adebayo Abiodun, was introduced to Mumini with the aim of removing the EFCC inscription on the property.
It was disclosed that Mumini obtained the sum of N3.05 million from Mrs. Mariam under false pretenses, claiming that the money was required by EFCC operatives to remove the inscription from the property.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to their remand in EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail applications on Monday, February 12, 2024.
The case highlights the EFCC’s efforts to combat economic and financial crimes, emphasizing the consequences of unauthorized property transactions and fraudulent activities.
