Adedamola Adewale, aka Adeherself, a social media influencer and comedian, was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday for allegedly committing a N7.9 million internet fraud.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 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.
The Ikeja Special Offenses Court’s Justice Mojisola Dada heard her plea of not guilty to the accusation.
Informing the court that the matter had been reassigned, EFCC attorney Mr. Samuel Daji begged it to hold the defendant awaiting the start of the trial.
Daji claimed that because the case was fresh before the court, the defense needed to make a thorough plea for bail.
“My lord, this case was heard by Justice Sherifat Solebo before to her retirement, and when it was moved to this honorable court, I told my learned friend that the case would be coming up on January 25, ” he stated.
He claimed to believe it happened the day before.
“This is a new case before your lordship, and we are unsure if the sureties who previously stood up for her are still alive or not.
It is appropriate for the defense to submit a new bail application to 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 fervently implore your lordship to let the defendant to keep using the bail set down by the sister court.
“The prosecution did not get back to me, which is why we weren’t here on January 25.
I will run to the sister court to receive a copy of the decision on the bail application before the end of today, I assure your lordship, he said.
As a result, the judge decided to hold onto the bail that Solebo had given the prisoner until the defense attorney submitted a new bail application.
Additionally, Dada instructed the defendant to provide a three-week bank statement of accounts.
According to her, the court would order her remand if she didn’t comply.
According to the EFCC, the defendant and two other people, Lasisi Adeleke and Sodiq Adeleke, who are still at large, attempted to extort $6 000 from a man named Mr. Joseph Rumoro under the guise that the money was needed for the acquisition of his passport and visa as well as the payment of taxes.
The commission further asserts that Adewale kept N7.9 million in cybercrime earnings in her bank account.
Sections 8(a) and 1(3), 8(b) and 1(3), and 17(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences, 2006 are violated by the accused offenses.
The trial has been set to begin on April 18 after the case was postponed.