An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday remanded one Ajayi Olushola at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos for alleged N1.07 billion diesel fraud.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe gave the order pending the hearing of Olushola’s bail application.
Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to Jan. 21 for the commencement of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Olushola before the court along with his companies, Hola-Jayu Nigeria Ltd and Mozann Global Merchants Ltd.
They are being tried on a four-count-charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to steal and stealing.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC Counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, asked the court to a date for trial date and to also remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the date of trial.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Christopher Jiakionna, sought for a short adjournment to enable him file a formal bail application.
EFCC, in one of the counts, alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained the said sum from two individuals under the guise of supplying diesel to them.
The commission told the court that the defendants, sometimes in May 15, 2024, alongside one Hannah Nwaguzor (still at large), allegedly obtained N986 million from one Prince Chukwulota Onuoha.
The claimed that the money was to supply one million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) Onuoha.
The anti-graft agency also accused the defendants of defrauding one Ms Irene Ifanse of N84.8 million on the pretext of supplying 82,000 litres of AGO to her.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and Sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
