Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Head, Pix By Google
A 24 year-old apprentice, Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel and his 35 years old woman friend, Airat Opeyemi Rahman, were today remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) by a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged conspiracy, fraud and stealing of N240 million.
Both Ezekiel and his lovebird, Airat, were remanded by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, after they both pleaded not guilty to the four-count made against them by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi Lagos.
PSFU through its prosecutor, Barrister Justin Enang, had told the court that the two defendants, had sometimes in February 2025, conspired among themselves to commit the alleged offences.
Specifically, Enang had informed the court that the first defendant, Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel, with an intent to defraud and while being an apprentice to one Jimoh Atofolaki, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jimi Larry Ventures Limited, fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit the sum of N250 million, which was the money received from the sales of goods at Osogbo Branch Office of the company.
He was alleged to have diverted the money to his and lover’s various account numbers, which were- 2173534953 (UBA), Account Name: Airat Opeyemi Rahman, Account number 7036915661 (PalmPay), Account Name: Rahman Shewa, Account Number 3135878573 (First Bank), Account Name: Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel and Account Number 8034817391 (OPay), Account Name: Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel.
Ezekiel’s lover, Airat was accused converted to her own use and benefit the sod sum of N250 million received from Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel, under the pretext of processing travelling documents for him to travel abroad.
The prosecutor had told the court that the alleged illegal act of the two lovers contravened sections 8(i)(b) and 1(i)(a), and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006. Section 18(2)(d)(3) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2002.
The prosecutor also told the court that their actions was contrary Section 383(2) and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, the two lovers had denied the offences an pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on their not guilty plea, their counsel, Barrister Ademola Olabiyi, informed the court that he had filed his clients’ bail applications and same have been served on prosecutor.
The prosecutor, Barrister Enang confirmed being served with the applications and equally told the court that he had responded to same.
Following the counsel submissions, the presiding judge urged them to move and adopt their processes.
The judge thereafter adjourned to May 19, for ruling on the bail applications, while ordered that the two defendants be remanded at Ikoyi and kirikiri facility of the NCos till the ruling their bail applications
Charges against the defendants read: “That you Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel ‘m’, Airat Opeyemi Rahman ‘f’ and others now at large sometimes in February 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud did conspire to commit felony to wit: obtaining goods worth N250, 000, 000. 00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) under false pretence thereby committed offence contrary to Section 8(i) (b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.
“That you Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel ‘m’, Airat Opeyemi Rahman ‘f’, in Lagos within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud while being an Apprentice to one Jimoh Atofolaki, CEO of Jimi Larry Ventures Limited, did fraudulently converted to your own use and benefit the sum of N250, 000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) being money received from the sales of goods at Osogbo Branch Office from customers by diverting the said company’s money to one Airat Opeyemi Rahman ‘f to her various account numbers- 2173534953 (UBA), Account Name: Airat Opeyemi Rahman, Account number 7036915661 (PalmPay), Account Name: Rahman Shewa, Account Number 3135878573 (First Bank), Account Name: Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel and Account Number 8034817391 (OPay), Account Name: Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel etc. which you reasonably ought to have known that such fund form part of the proceed of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18(2)(d)(3) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2002.
“That you, Airat Opeyemi Rahman ‘f’ sometimes in February 2025, in Lagos within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently converted to your own use and benefit the sum of N250, 000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) Only being money received from Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel ‘m’ through the following bank accounts details provided by you, account numbers — 2173534953 (UBA), Account Name: Airat Opeyemi Rahman, Account number 7036915661 (PalmPay), Account Name: Rahman Shewa under the pretext of processing travelling documents for him to travel abroad, a representation you knew to be false or did not believe to be true and which you made recklessly and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you Taiwo Oluwatimilehin Ezekiel ‘m’ on the same date, time and place within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did steal by fraudulently converting to your own use and benefit the sum of N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) property of Jimoh Atofolaki, CEO of Jimi Larry Ventures Limited being money received from the sales of goods of the company’s customers by you in the course of your apprenticeship with the company which you deliberately failed to pay the said proceed to the company’s account and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(2) and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
