Six suspects, Olarewaju Adesoye, Mayowa Ajisafe, Matthew Olarenwaju, Olorunfemi Osho, Joseph Balogun and Ajayi Temidayo, were arraigned by the Department of Security Services, DSS, before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District on Wednesday, Dec. 13, for alleged possession of fraudulent documents, forgery, using false documents and counterfeit seals as well as impersonation.
The DSS Legal Officer and prosecutor, Olaolu Olayinka, told the court that the defendants sometime between October and November in Ado Ekiti, conspired to commit the offence to obtain money by false pretence.
The prosecutor added that “the defendants, at the same time and place, with the intention to defraud, did obtain the sum of N1.795m from Olumide Damilola, Ayeni Rachael Fummilayo, Fakunle Olasunkanmi Olatunbosun, Ogidi Kayode Emmanuel and others.
“They did possess fake tax clearance certificates of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service.
“They did forge the signature of one Olaniran Olatona, Executive Chairman of Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service.
“They did fraudulently use a counterfeit seal of Ekiti State IRS.
“They did falsely represent themselves as staff of the Ekiti State IRS with intent to defraud.”
Olayinka said the original case file had been transmitted to the Ministry of Justice to take over the case pending the issuance of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions of Ekiti State.
According to the DSS legal officer, the offence committed by the defendants “is punishable under Sections 421, 329, 335, 357, 372, 391 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.
All the six defendants pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge against them.
Counsel for the defendants, Timi Omotoso, who said the defendants were men of integrity, urged the court to grant them bail, adding that they would provide credible sureties.
The magistrate, Mr A. O. Adeosun, granted bail of N500,000 each and one surety for two defendants, adding that the three sureties must have landed property in Ado Ekiti.
The magistrate adjourned the case till January 26, 2024.
