EFCC arraigns man for impersonating, defrauding Fashola

EFCC arraigns man for impersonating, defrauding Fashola.
Published December 16, 2019.
Oladimeji Ramon
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission on Monday arraigned one Malik
Wakili for allegedly impersonating the Minister
of Works and Housing , Babatunde Fashola, and
defrauding the minister to the tune of N3 , 106,
216.
Wakili, who was arraigned before the Federal
High Court in Lagos , was said to have allegedly
committed the offence in March this year .
The EFCC told Justice C . J . Aneke that Wakili
conspired with one Abdullahi Umar , said to be
at large , “ to fraudulently impersonate Mr
Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN ), with intent to
gain a monetary advantage for themselves . ”
According to the EFCC , the defendant
“ converted the total sum of N3 , 106, 216 , being
the value of the Air- miles Skywards Account
Number EK 248739282 of Mr Babatunde with
the Emirate Airlines and which sum they
reasonably ought to have known formed part
the proceeds of their unlawful activity , to wit :
fraud . ”
The prosecution said Wakili acted contrary to
sections 15 (2 )( a ) and 27 ( 1) (b ) of the Money
Laundering ( Prohibition ) Act and was liable to
be punished under sections 15 (3 ) and 22 (3 ) (a )
of the same Act.
The defendant , however, pleaded not guilty to
the three counts pressed against him .
Justice Aneke adjourned till December 17 to
rule on the bail application filed on his behalf
by his lawyer , Eubena Anedu.
The counsel for the EFCC , Uduak Kufre , did not
oppose the bail application; he only urged the
judge to impose conditions that would ensure
that the defendant attended his trial .
The judge ordered that Wakili should be
remanded in the prison custody , pending the
ruling on his bail application.