A fake Nigerian Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre by the Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.
Bolarinwa has been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo for faking as Nigerian Army General and commiting fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in January, 2022 arraigned the civilian who had called himself a military general to access a N270 million loan from Kodef Clearing Resources, a transportation company in Nigeria.
It was gathered that Bolarinwa had told the company that President Muhammdu Buhari shortlisted him for appointment as Chief of Army Staff and he needed a quick grant to process the appointment.
It was said that he forged a letter of appointment bearing the signature of the president.
He was said to have carried out the acts under the pretence that the sum represented part of the amount expended to “press and process” his appointment by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army.
Bolarinwa was charged with 13 counts bordering on falsely presenting himself as a General in the Nigerian Army, and obtained the sum of N 266,500,000 from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited.
The charge read in part, Bolarinwa Abiodun between 17th August, 2017 and 12th December, 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud and whilst holding yourself out as a General in the Nigerian Army obtained the cumulative sum of N266,500,000 from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited, under the pretence that the sum represented part of the amount expended to “press and process” your incoming appointment by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, which pretence you knew to be false.”
He had pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
Upon his not guilty plea, the EFCC Counsel, Abbas Muhammed, urged the court to remand him.
But the defence counsel Kayode Lawal argued otherwise at the proceeding, informing the court of summon for bail.
However, the EFCC councel said, “We were only served on and we need time.”
Lawal, said that the defendant has been in the commission’s detention since 12th January, 2022 and came to the court from there.
He said, “We have made several attempt to make the defendant get administrative bail.
“We have also been told by the Commission to bring surety which we have complied with their term but to no avail.
“We will be praying the court for a short possible date.
“Because this is the only option for the defendant to salvage his fundamental and constituional right.”
Justice Taiwo, however, adjourned the matter till April 14, 2022 for further hearing.
