EFCC arraigns crime alert boss for alleged N35m fraud

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, October 18, 2021, arraigned one Olaniyan Gbenga Amos ( aka Crime Alert ) and his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on a 35 -count charge bordering on conspiracy, operating business of other financial institutions and obtaining money under false pretense to the tune of N35, 000,000.00(Thirty-Five Million Naira).

The defendant was arrested following petitions by victims, alleging that Amos through his company, Detorrid Heritage Investment Nigeria Limited (DHIL) popularly known as Crime Alert Security Network Investment, induced them to invest in a network scheme which offered a monthly 30% returns on investment.

One of the counts state: “That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited between August, 2019 and May, 2021 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without license, operate business of other financial institutions and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58(1) and punishable under section 59(6) (a and b) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3 Laws of the Federation Nigeria, 2004.”

Count 20 reads: “That you Olaniyan Gbenga Amos and Detorrid Heritage Investment Limited on or about 29th of September, 2020, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N15, 000,000:00 (Fifteen Million Naira) only from Fadipe Babajide Ayorinde, when you falsely represented to him that the money is meant for registration and investment with Crime Alert Security Network with a promise of 30% return on investment in 6 weeks (30 working days), which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (I)(a) and punishable under section (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2016.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Galadanchi Sanusi, asked the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Service and fix a date for trial to commence.

Counsel for the first and second defendants, Richard. A. Ogunwole SAN informed the court he has filed an application for the release of his client on bail. But the court ruled that the application was not ripe for hearing as the further affidavit filed by the defendant is not properly before the Court.

Consequently, Justice Agomoh adjourned till October 25, 2021 “for hearing of bail application” and also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abolongo, Oyo State.