The arraignment of suspected fraudster, Idowu Olarenwaju, alias Capt Anthony Abel Saramoh, has been adjourned to November 30, 2015. Olarenwaju and his accomplice, Joe Onwudimowei, were to be arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday but could not take their plea as their counsel, A. Adedipe, pleaded for time to study the 22-count charge brought against the accused persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Though prosecution counsel, Gabriel Edobor, prayed the court to allow the accused person take their plea, contending that they may not be present to take their plea if allowed to go without sureties, Justice U.N. Agomoh adjourned the matter to November 30 for arraignment.

Olarenwaju was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for defrauding an American citizen of 4 million dollars through his company, Total Intership Nigeria Limited.

“The heist was earned through a phony crude oil contracts with the victim, wiring the said amount into the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited ostensibly for the supply of crude oil. The bubble burst after the victim was left clutching the air, in an exasperating wait that ended with a petition to the EFCC,” EFCC Head, Media & Publicity Wilson Uwujiaren said.

Onwudimowei, who operates the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited with GTBank where the proceeds of the said fake contract was deposited, was arrested on June 18, 2015 and upon interrogation, fingered Idowu Olanrewaju and one Otunba Yemi Osho as the people to whom he handed over all monies that passed through the account.

On the June 19, the duo of Idowu Olanrewaju and Yemi Osho were arrested following a dawn raid on their homes by EFCC operatives.

According to Onwudimowei, Olanrewaju sometime in 2010, instructed him to withdraw the sum of N3.5 million for Chief Yemi Osho. Osho, he claimed, in turn, handed over the money to two people sent to him by Olarenwaju.

This singular involvement of Osho was what made Olanrewaju confess to the fraud as he had initially denied knowing Onwudimowei. When Olanrewaju was confronted with the testimony of Osho, sources at the EFCC disclosed that he was speechless and began to plead for mercy.

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