By Kayode Adeoti
Abayomi Atoki, the son-in-law of 2015 governorship candidate, Sen. Simeon Ajibola, was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody over alleged N2million fraud by a magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Atoki, was said to have collected the money from one Olusola Rotimi in order to buy a Toyota Avalon, 2006 model under the guise of being a motor dealer. He however did not buy the said car or refund the money to Rotimi.
The Police First Information Report revealed that the accused person was dragged before Magistrate Kudirat Yahya for the offence of criminal breach of trust, cheating and advanced fee fraud contrary to section 312 & 322 of Penal Code Law 1(3) of Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offence Act 2006.
The FIR stated that, “Sometimes in August 2017, Atoki approached the complainant who resides at Nupe road in Ilorin, that he is a motor dealer.
Rotimi however contracted the accused person to purchase the car for him at the rate of N2 million.
“He then transferred the sum of N1.96 million to Atoki’s bank account with the view to deliver the car in two weeks.”
It also stated that Rotimi promised to pay the balance of N40,000 after the car must have been delivered.
“However, you promised to deliver the said car in two weeks but you defrauded,” the police report revealed.
During police investigation at Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department in Ilorin, the accused was said to have admitted that he promised to make the vehicle available on or before 22nd February, 2018.
Since then, the accused was said to have absconded to an unknown place only to be tracked and arrested on 8th June, 2018 in Abuja through investigation.
After being granted bail, the accused failed to appear in court, an action that made the magistrate to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. Atoki has however remained in prison custody since his last arrest on August 28.
Magistrate Yahya further declined admitting the accused to bail on Tuesday when the matter came up. The case was adjourned to October 4, 2018.
