EFCC arrests runaway internet fraudster

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Office on Wednesday re-arraigned 32 year old Abolarin Kayode before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin for offences bordering on internet fraud and other fraud related offences. He was arraigned on seven count charges.

It would be recalled that the Accused was first arraigned sometime in February 2019 before Justice Babagana Ashigar of a Federal High Court in Ilorin but absconded after he was granted bail.

Luck however ran against him sometime in August when the operatives of the EFCC, based on intelligence, traced him to G.R.A, in Ilorin and effected his arrest.

Count Four of the charge stated: “That you, Abolarin Kayode (Alias Lauren Saint) on or about the 6th day of February 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kwara State , with intent to defraud, had in your possession a document containing false pretence, to with; a gmail titled Paid to drive initiative by your budweiser which you sent to one Chad Bakichan American citizen through your acclaimed email laurensaint345@gmail.com, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6 read along with section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act , 2006 and punishable under section 1 of the same Act.”

At his arraignment before Justice Oyinloye on Wednesday, the Accused Person pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting Counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa told the Court that “In view of the defendant’s plea of not guilty, we shall be asking for a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case against the Accused Person.

“We also want my Lord to remand him in Prison Custody.’

But Counsel to the defendant, I. Abdulazeez raised no objections to the oral application but pleaded with the court to allow his client to remain in the Custody of the EFCC.

Justice Oyinloye adjourned the case till 17th of October and ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Mandala Prison.