Social media influencer and comedian, Adedamola Adewale, a.k.a Adeherself, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday for alleged N7.9 million online fraud.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Adewale was charged on three counts, including conspiracy to gain money via false pretenses, attempt to obtain money through false pretenses, and retention of proceeds of criminal activity, along with two other suspects still at large.
But she entered a not guilty plea to the accusation.
The defendant should be held in custody pending the start of the trial, the EFCC attorney, Mr. Samuel Daji, said the court after the matter was reassigned.
Daji claimed that because the case was fresh before the court, the defense needed to make a thorough plea for bail.
He said: “My lord, this case was heard before Justice Sherifat Solebo before she retired, and when it was transferred to this honourable court, I informed my learned friend that the case would be coming up on Jan. 25.
“He said he thought it was the day before.
“This is a matter that is starting afresh before your lordship, and we do not know if the sureties, who stood for her earlier, are dead or not.
“It is proper for defence to apply afresh for bail before your lordship.”
However, the defendant’s defense attorney, Mr. Kassim Molade, requested that the court uphold the bail set by Solebo for the defendant until a new bail application is being made.
The defendant, according to Molade, has not missed any court dates and is prepared to appear for the trial.
“We passionately urge your lordship to allow the defendant to continue to enjoy the bail given to her by the sister court.
“The reason we were not here on Jan. 25 is that prosecution did not get back to me.
“I assure your lordship that before the close of today, I will rush to the sister court to get a copy of the ruling on the bail application,” he added.
In light of this, Justice Mojisola Dada decided to hold onto the defendant’s bail until the defense attorney submitted a new bail application.
Additionally, Dada instructed the defendant to provide a three-week bank statement of accounts.
She stated that if she didn’t, the judge would order her remand.
The EFCC held that the defendant, together with two other people, Lasisi Adeleke and Sodiq Adeleke, who are still at large, sought to steal $6,000 from one Mr. Joseph Rumoro under the guise that it was needed to pay taxes and obtain a passport and visa.
The panel further said that Adewale kept the N7.9 million cybercrime earnings in her bank account.
The alleged offenses violate Sections 8(a), 1(3), 8(b), and 1(3) as well as Sections 17(a), and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses, 2006.
The trial has been set to begin on April 18 after the case was postponed.
