By Gloria Drealomalicha
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-proclaimed native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, over an alleged ₦1.98 billion contract fraud scheme.
The couple were brought before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and the alleged laundering of proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
According to the EFCC, the case followed a petition lodged by a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a private school proprietor in Delta State, who accused Taiwo of deceiving her into financing a purported road construction project.
Investigators alleged that Taiwo claimed to have secured a contract from the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), using the claim to persuade the complainant to invest heavily in the project.
EFCC findings further indicated that a total sum of approximately ₦1.98 billion was paid into Taiwo’s Access Bank account during the course of the alleged transactions.
The Commission also alleged that the suspects laundered proceeds of the fraud through the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti. These include a commercial establishment, Town Tavern Lounge on Ikere Road near Florence Court School, and a four-bedroom bungalow situated within Florence Court, Irewolede Estate.
Earlier on 25 May 2026, the EFCC secured an interim forfeiture order over the two properties, which are believed to have been purchased with proceeds of the alleged fraud.
The defendants are expected to face trial as proceedings continue.
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