On Wednesday, the Ekiti State Department of Security Services hauled six people before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court for alleged fraud, possession of phoney documents, forgery, utilising fake documents, counterfeit seals, and impersonation.
Olarewaju Adesoye, Mayowa Nelson Ajisafe, Matthew Ilesanmi Olarenwaju, Olorunfemi Osho, Joseph Sunday Balogun, and Ajayi Temidayo are the names of the six defendants.
Olaolu Olayinka, the DSS legal officer and prosecutor in the case, informed the court that the defendants committed the crimes in Ado-Ekiti between October and November.
The Prosecutor alleged that the defendants did conspire together to commit offence to wit obtaining money by false pretence.
The prosecutor added that the defendants also on the same time and place, under false pretence and with the intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N1,795,000, from Olumide Damilola, Ayeni Rachael Fummilayo, Fakunle Olasunkanmi Olatunbosun, Ogidi Kayode Emmanuel and others.
According to him, “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 used a counterfeit seal of Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service.
“They did falsely represent themselves as Staff of Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service with intent to defraud.”
The offences committed are punishable under Section 421, 329, 335, 357, 372, 391 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.
Olayinka said the original case file has been transferred to the Ministry of Justice, to take over the case and pending the issuance of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ekiti State.
All the six defendants pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Barr. T. E. Omotoso, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, saying they are men of integrity, adding that they would provide credible surety.
The Magistrate, Mr. A. O. Adeosun, granted bail of N500,000 each, one surety with two defendants, (3 sureties for the six defendants) and adjourned the case to January 26th, 2024.