The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, arraigned the duo of Alabi Azeez
Babatunde and Elizabeth Farotimi before Justice Demi-Ajayi of the
Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State on three-count charges bordering on
conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and intent to defraud.
The duo was alleged to have some time in 2018 defrauded Alkairu Sani of
the sum of N10,085,000 (Ten Million and Eighty-five Thousand Naira) by
claiming to possess supernatural powers and ability to multiply any
amount of money.
One of the charges read: “That you, Alabi Azeez Babatunde, Elizabeth
Farotimi and Ogungbemi Taiwo (at large) on and about the month of August
2018 in Benin, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High
Court of Nigeria did with intent to defraud, induced one Alkairu Sani to
pay the aggregate sum of N9,225,000 (Nine Million, Two Hundred and
Twenty -Five Thousand Naira) Only into account No: 0041475970,
domiciled in Union Bank PLC and operated by you, by representing
yourselves as possessing the power of increasing and doubling the said
amount through sacrifices and invocation of juju, contrary to Section 2(
b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006
and punishable under Section 2(c) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty of all the charges, prompting
prosecution counsel, I.M. Elody to pray the court to fix a trial date
and to remand them in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service,
Benin City. However, the defence counsel, Emmanuel Okorie prayed the
court for a short date of adjournment to enable him to file the
defendants’ bail applications.
Justice Demi-Ajayi ordered that the defendants be remanded in the
Nigerian Correctional facility, Oko Central, Benin City, and adjourned
hearing on the bail to July 1, 2020.
