N13m Fraud: EFCC Investigator Narrates How FBI Petition Aid Suspect’s Arrest
An Investigative Officer with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, how America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleged wanted fraudster Raji Rilwan Akinola defrauded one Mr. Babatunde Sunday Adeyemi the sum of over N13. 269, 804. million.
Raji Rilwan Akinola is standing trial before the Court presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, on a two count charge bordering on stealing.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed trial of the defendant today, the Investigator, Adze Adams, while being led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs Fadeke Giwa, told the court that the Commission received a petition from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which led to the arrest of the defendant and thereafter commence investigation into the allegations.
The IPO told the court that their investigation revealed that the defendant carried out the fraudulent act through his account domiciled in a new generation account.
The IPO further told the Court that the defendant further transferred about the sum of N5 million to his Polaris and Zenith banks’ accounts. Adding that defendant’s Zenith Bank account was not linked with his BVN, the development she said was strange to the Commission on how the defendant did it.
At the end of defendant’s evidence, the prosecutor, Mrs. Giwa, tendered the FBI’s Petition against the defendant, his banks’ Statement of accounts, which were admitted and marked as exhibit P1 to P6.
Subsequently, defendant’s counsel begged the court for an adjournment to enable him cross examine the witness.
Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned till October 28 for continuation of trial.
The defendant, Raji Rilwan Akinola, was first arraigned before the court sometimes early this year.
The offences according to the prosecution, contravened Section 411 and 328(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under section 287 of the same law.
