Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, re-arraigned a self-acclaimed social media influencer, Adedamola Rukayat (a.k.a.Adeherself), before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence.
The defendant was arrested in June 2020, following an intelligence report received by the Commission on the activities of some suspected internet fraudsters in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
Adeherself had initially been arraigned on July 6, 2020 before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of the trial judge, thereby prompting the re-assignment of the case to Justice Dada.
One of the counts against reads: “Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, Lasisi Wasiu Adeleke (still at large) and Sodiq Adeleke (still at large), between the 17th day of April 2020 and 24th day of May 2020 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of $6,000 (Six Thousand Dollars) from Joseph Rumoro.”
Another count reads: “Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, between 29th of April 2020 and 30th day of April 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the control of the aggregate sum of N7,876,000 in your Guaranty Trust Bank Account, which you knew to be proceeds of various internet and cybercrimes.”
Adeherself pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The prosecuting counsel, S.O. Daji, informed the court that the case was a “re-assigned one”, and so urged the court to remand the defendant at the correctional facility, pending the commencement of the trial.
“There will be need for proper bail application by the defence,” he said, arguing further that “we do not know if the sureties that stood for her earlier are dead or no.”
The defence counsel, K.C. Molade, however, pleaded with the court to uphold the bail earlier granted by Justice Solebo.
“I assure your lordship that before the close of today, I will rush to the court to get a copy of the ruling of the bail application,” he said.
Consequently, Justice Dada temporarily retained the bail granted to the defendant and temporarily released her to her counsel, pending the formal filing of a fresh bail application by the defence.
The case has been adjourned till April 18, 19 and 20, 2023.