By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday adjourned till October 26 for continuation of trial of the self-acclaimed social media influencer, Rukayat Adedamola Adewale (aka) Adeherself, who was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for alleged internet fraud.
After her re-arraignment before Justice Sherifat Solebo, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her and in view of her plea, the prosecution applied for trial to commence and sought to call its first witness (PW1), Samuel Orie, a Compliance Officer with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, (GTB) to testify against the defendant.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, S.O. Daji, the witness told the court that the bank received a letter from the Commission, asking for the statement of account as well as the account opening package of the defendant, which it sent to the Commission.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel sought to tender the documents, which were admitted in evidence by the court.
Rukayat Adewale, (20), is being prosecuted on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, attempt to obtain by false pretence and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.
The court adjourned the case to October 26, 2020 for continuation of trial.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, Lasisi Wasiu Adeleke, ( still at large) Sodiq Adeleke( still at large), between the 17th day of April, 2020 and 24th May, 2020 at Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of $6,000( Six Thousand Dollars) from Joseph Rumoro on the representation that the sum is meant for procurement of passport, visa and tax, which representation you knew to be false.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, between 29th day of April, 2020 and 30th day of April, 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the control of the aggregate sum of N7, 876.000( Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy- six Thousand Naira) in your Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account number 0240818624, which you knew to be proceeds of various internet and cybercrimes.”