The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Oluwatobi Adegoke, a Nigerian holding American citizenship, before Justice Olubunmi Abike Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Lagos State, sitting in Ikeja, on a single count of stealing.
Adegoke was arrested in July 2026 by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate over an alleged vehicle import fraud involving more than 320,000 US dollars, approximately N434.88 million.
Preliminary investigations indicate that he allegedly belonged to a syndicate based in the United States that specialised in defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians under the guise of purchasing and importing vehicles from the United States.
Further investigation revealed that, while residing in the United States, Adegoke allegedly advertised and circulated photographs of a 2024 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG to prospective buyers in Nigeria, claiming that he could purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them.
The investigation further established that two victims allegedly paid a combined sum of more than 320,000 US dollars, equivalent to over N434.88 million, in connection with the transaction.
He was charged with stealing contrary to section 278(1)(b) and section 285(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge alleges that Oluwatobi Adegoke, sometime in December 2024 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division, dishonestly converted to his own use the sum of 680,000 US dollars, the property of Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike, being money transferred to the bank account of his company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G Wagon from Mr Robinson.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Arazeem Adebayo urged the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant.
The defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, who had earlier been overruled on his objection to the arraignment, was again overruled when he applied for the defendant to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the filing of his bail application.
Justice Abike Fadipe consequently ordered that Adegoke be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until 13 January 2027 for trial.
By A.Ikechukwu
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