Rita Odafe
After allegedly deceiving job seekers and collecting N12.4 million from them unlawfully, Mrs Tosin Olagunju, a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) staff member, has been taken into custody at Suleja prison in Niger State by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Charged with four counts of scamming job seekers, Olagunju pleaded not guilty and is set for trial as requested by the prosecuting attorney, Princewill Eke.
The defence counsel, M. A. Oloniruka, stated that a bail application had been submitted but was not in the court file, leading Justice Nyako to deny the oral bail request, insisting all applications be in writing.
Justice Nyako remanded Olagunju in prison until her bail hearing on October 9, adjourning the trial to that date and ordering her to be held at Suleja correctional centre.
The case filed by the Inspector General of Police, under suit FHC/ABJ/CR/183/2024, presents the charges against Olagunju:
- Count One: Between 2010 and 2023, Olagunju is accused of obtaining N12,400,000 from individuals like Billi Haruna Bwala under the pretence of securing NSCDC employment, which violates Section 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
- Count Two: Olagunju is alleged to have conspired with others between 2020 and 2023, constituting criminal conspiracy under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
- Count Three: By dishonestly using N12,400,000 for personal gain while entrusted with securing NSCDC jobs, Olagunju violated trust, an act punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Act 2004.
- Count Four: Fraudulently inducing Nigerians to give up N12,400,000 between 2010 and 2023, Olagunju faces charges under Section 322 of the Penal Code Act 2004.
