Osun Court Remands 46-Year-Old Woman For Allegedly Defrauding Businessman N86m

A 46-year-old woman, Abigail Ajulo has appeared before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly defrauding a businessman, Mr Peter Oguanya to the tune of N86,746,210.00.

Ajulo was arraigned before the magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara, on six counts of impersonation, forgery, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the details of the offences committed by the defendants, the defendant who pretended to be a staff of an insurance company and First Bank PLC between September 01, 2017 and December 04, 2025, obtained the sum of N85,500,000.00 from Oguanya, on the pretence of remitting the sum to the said insurance company.

The said offence is contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap C34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State 2002.

The defendant, was also alleged to have, without authorisation, obtained an Automated Teller Machine card to steal the sum of N1,246,210 from Oguanya’s account between November 02, 2021 and April 25, 2023, an offence said to be contrary to Section 464 (b) and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State 2002.

Ajulo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against her.

The defence counsel, A. Adepoju urged the court to grant Ajulo bail in the most liberal terms, noting that she is ready to stand trial and will not jump bail.

The nominal claimant was represented by Barrister K.E Ngwoke.

In his ruling, Magistrate Ayilara gave the defendant bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties.

He said one of the sureties must be her blood relatives living within the court jurisdiction while the second surety should be a civil servant not below level 12.

He remanded Ajulo in Ilesa correctional facility pending the perfection of her bail and adjourned the case till May 19, for mention.

Meanwhile, there was a mild drama when a lawyer from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, identified as Barrister Titiloye applied to take over the case on the instruction of the State Commissioner for Justice.

Titiloye told the court that the Attorney General of the state, Barrister Jimi Bada (SAN) was interested in the matter, adding that the defendant was detained in different cells for 19 days.

He also said the defendant was raped in the police cell by a police operative, insisting that the matter was of public interest and the Ministry of Justice should be allowed to take over.

But Ngwoke opposed the application, noting that the nominal complainant did not initiate any move for the Ministry to take over the matter.

He expressed fear that the case could be jeopardised if a state counsel took over the matter, insisting that the application was malicious and not in the overall interest of the public.

However, Ayilara while ruling on the application said the police should hand over the original case file to the state counsel, adding that the Attorney General of the state has absolute power to take over any matter.