Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Office on Thursday, arraigned a 36-year old contractor, Joseph Oluwole Komolafe, before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
Komolafe was arraigned on a one count charge of 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 laboratory 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 Femimat Concepet Limited the sum of #31, 500,000.00 (Thirty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
“That you intentionally induced Femimat Concept Limited to supply laboratory equipment in respect of a contract worth N128,199,968.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Eight Million One Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and sixty Eight Naira) to Univesrsity of Ilorin in your stead which was not supplied.
“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, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The prosecuting counsel, A.A Adebayo,however, asked Justice Abdulgafar to give a trial day.
“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.”
The Lead Counsel to the Defendant, A.O Adelodun, did not object to the application of the prosecution.
” My Lord, we are not objecting to the application seeking for adjournment for prosecution to open its case, but we are praying your Lordship to allow us move our oral application for bail, “he said.
After the prosecuting counsel opposed the oral application for the bail of the accused , Justice Abdulgafar 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 February 21, for hearing of the bail application.
