The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a property developer, Yusuf Oyepeju, before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged N13.7m fraud involving a Dubai based Nigerian.
Oyepeju was arraigned alongside his companies, Alwajeez International Nigeria Limited and AIN Homes and Property Limited, on a six count charge bordering on forgery, uttering, stealing by conversion and obtaining money under false pretences.
The EFCC said the alleged offences involved N13,697,900 belonging to an Islamic cleric, Fasasi Bayonle, whom Oyepeju reportedly met through a WhatsApp group established for Muslims to share Islamic teachings.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in Ibadan on Wednesday.
According to the commission, Oyepeju allegedly obtained N8,697,900 from Bayonle after presenting himself as a property developer capable of purchasing land and constructing a house for him in Ibadan.
The commission alleged that the defendant initially approached Bayonle in 2018 for financial assistance to secure accommodation for himself and his newly married wife.
Bayonle, who had relocated to the United Arab Emirates, was said to have allowed Oyepeju to temporarily occupy his unoccupied house at Ikumapayi area of Olodo, Ibadan, while he raised money for accommodation.
The EFCC alleged that Oyepeju subsequently convinced Bayonle to entrust him with funds for the purchase and development of another property.
After receiving the money, the commission said investigations allegedly uncovered that Oyepeju forged a transfer of agreement, purportedly transferred the property to his companies and sold the house he had been allowed to occupy temporarily.
The proceeds of the alleged sale were reportedly converted for his personal use.
The EFCC further alleged that Oyepeju failed to fulfil his promise to purchase land and develop it for Bayonle despite receiving the funds.
One of the counts accused the defendant and his companies of converting N8,697,900 belonging to Bayonle to their personal use between February and August 2020, an offence the commission said contravened the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code.
Oyepeju pleaded not guilty to all six counts when they were read to him.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, asked the court to fix a date for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, defence counsel, B. Ajibola, told the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution, urging the judge to release his client on bail.
Justice Olusola Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the case for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Oyepeju be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre pending the hearing.