*Remanded in prison custody
By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Office has arraigned one Mustapha Ilyas Abdulwasiu, a Lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State on “Offences bordering on Employment Scam and obtaining money under false pretence.”
While arraigning the Accused on Tuesday on a nine count charge before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the high court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, the anti graft agency revealed that the defendant who is a Lecturer in Accounting Department at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, had at different times in 2019 defrauded many job seekers, mainly couples under a false pretence of helping them to secure employments at the institution.
Count one of the charge stated: “That you Mustapha Ilyas Abdulwasiu between June and July 2018 at Offa, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of #600,000.00 (Six hundred thousand naira) from one Amubiaya Raphael Oluwafemi by false pretence that you were in charge of employment at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa and obtained the money for the purpose of securing employment for the said Amubiaya Raphael Oluwafemi and his wife, Amubiaya Remi Janet which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.”
Count nine of the charge also stated: “That you, Mustapha Ilyas Abdulwasiu between December, 2018 and February 2019 at Offa within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of #550,000.00 (Five hundred and fifty thousand naira) from one Mustapha Kabir by false pretence that you were in charge of Employment at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa and you obtained the money for the purpose of securing employment for the said Mustapha Kabir and his wife, Jimoh Ganiyatu which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, No 14 , 2006.”
The 36-year-old Lecturer, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Prosecuting Counsel, A. A. Adebayo told Justice Sikiru Oyinloye that “My Lord, considering the plea of the defendant, we humbly apply for a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case, we also pray your Lordship to remand the accused Person in Prison Custody, these are my humble application my Lord.”
Defence Counsel, M. O Balogun in his response said: “My Lord, we shall not be opposing the application seeking for adjournment to enable the prosecution to open its case. However, we urge your Lordship to allow us to make an oral application for the bail of the defendant, on the grounds that I was just being served with the charge this morning.”
Prosecuting Counsel however refuted the claims, arguing that the Accused Person was served with the Charge since 14th of October.
Justice Oyinloye, after confirming that Mustapha was served since 14th of October, said the bail application should be filed and adjourned hearing till 7th of November 2019, while ordering that the Accused be remanded in Mandala Prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
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