Native doctor, wife arraigned over alleged N1.09bn contract scam in Ekiti

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self‑styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before a Federal High Court in Ado‑Ekiti over an alleged N1.09 billion contract scam.

The couple were brought before Justice Abubakar Usman by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a six‑count charge that includes obtaining money by false pretences and retention of proceeds of crime.

According to the EFCC, the defendants were arrested after a petition by Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a widow and proprietor of a private school in Delta State, who claimed that Taiwo persuaded her to finance a road construction contract he said had been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.

The anti‑graft agency said its investigation revealed that the defendants allegedly obtained N1,098,961,500 from the complainant and used part of the proceeds to acquire properties in Ado‑Ekiti, including Town Tavern Lounge and a four‑bedroom bungalow.

One of the charges read in court stated: “That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu.”

The charge further alleged that the money was received through Taiwo’s Access Bank account after the defendants falsely claimed it would be used for a DESOPADEC road project.

According to the charge, the funds were obtained “by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), a pretence you knew to be false.”

The EFCC also disclosed that it had secured an interim forfeiture order on the two properties allegedly acquired with proceeds of the fraud on 25 May 2026.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all six counts when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants pending further proceedings.

Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the matter until 11 June 2026 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of their bail request.