The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Oluwatobi Adegoke, a Nigerian-American, over an alleged vehicle import fraud involving more than $320,000.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Monday, the commission said Adegoke was arraigned on Thursday, October 8, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on a one-count charge of stealing.
Adegoke was arrested in July by operatives of the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate over the alleged fraud, which the commission said was equivalent to approximately N434.88 million.
According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations indicated that Adegoke was allegedly part of a United States-based syndicate that defrauded Nigerians by promising to purchase and import vehicles from the US.
The commission alleged that Adegoke, while residing in the US, advertised a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria, claiming he could purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them.
The EFCC said two victims allegedly paid a combined sum exceeding $320,000 in connection with the transaction.
However, the charge against Adegoke alleged that he dishonestly converted $680,000 belonging to Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike to his personal use in December 2024.
The money was reportedly transferred to the bank account of Adegoke’s company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G-Wagon from an individual identified as Mr Robinson.
Adegoke pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Arazeem Adebayo, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
Defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, requested that Adegoke be remanded in EFCC custody pending the filing of his bail application.
The judge rejected the request after overruling the defence counsel’s objection to the arraignment.
Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently ordered that Adegoke be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos and adjourned the case until January 13, 2027, for trial.
