EFCC Charges Self‑Styled Native Doctor and Wife in Ekiti Over Alleged ₦1.09 Billion Contract Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought a self‑proclaimed native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, before the Federal High Court in Ado‑Ekiti. The couple faces an alleged N1.098 billion contract fraud.

They were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman on six counts that include obtaining money by false pretence and retaining proceeds of crime.

The prosecution, led by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, charged the defendants with offences under Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

In a statement from the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the agency said the suspects were detained after a petition was filed by a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, who runs a private school in Delta State.

According to Kenechukwu, Taiwo approached her with a proposal to finance a road‑construction contract that he claimed had been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). She said she paid large sums into an account belonging to Taiwo based on this representation.

EFCC investigations found that a total of N1.98 billion was transferred into the defendants’ Access Bank account in connection with the alleged contract.

Investigators also discovered that part of the proceeds was used to purchase properties in Ado‑Ekiti, including the Town Tavern Lounge on Ikere Road and a four‑bedroom bungalow in Florence Court, Irewolede Estate.

The commission had obtained an interim forfeiture order on the two properties on 25 May 2026.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety‑Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty‑One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.

Following their pleas, EFCC counsel Sesan Ola requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants pending the case’s determination.

Justice Usman adjourned the case until 11 June 2026 for hearing of the bail applications and the commencement of the trial.

The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody pending further proceedings.