The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command, on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, arraigned the owner of Ibadan-based Club, De Rock Club, Adepoju Olawale Sunday, alias SSG, before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on two separate charges for his alleged involvement in cybercrime and obtaining money under false pretences to the tune of N31,821,000.00 (Thirty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand Naira).
EFCC, in a statement signed by Head Media and Publicity, Willson Uwujaren, said the first charge, containing eight counts, was for identity theft, obtaining COVID–19 and unemployment benefits from the United States of America government. The other 19-count charge is premised on the transfer of proceeds of crime to one Owoade Emmanuel David.
Investigations revealed that Adepoju, 36, who claimed to be a graduate of Industrial Chemistry of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Osun State, had, during the COVID–19 pandemic, swindled the American government and unsuspecting American citizens, thousands of dollars.
He allegedly stole the identities of American citizens eligible for the tax refund programme across the U.S. and filed the stolen information to claim the benefits.
Investigations also showed that Adepoju, through the US Small Business Administration (SBA), a programme established in New York City during COVID-19 to help Americans build resilient businesses, stole personal identifying information of American citizens, which he used to file false benefits claims.
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Mabas Mabur, asked the court for a trial date and remanded the defendant pending the determination of the case.
However, counsel to the defendant, Olaniyi George informed the court that he had filed two separate bail applications on behalf of his client. He prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.
However, Mabur told the court to reject the applications because the defendant is a flight risk and has pending charges against him in other law courts.
Justice Agomoh, adjourned the matter till April 18, 2023, for ruling and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Agodi Correctional facility.
The defendant was arrested on August 31, 2022, alongside 21 other suspected internet fraudsters, in an intelligence-driven operation by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC.
He was arrested with a 2020 Range Rover HSE Sports Utility Vehicle, an iPhone 13 Pro Max and Hp laptop, among others.
