EFCC arraigns native doctor, wife over alleged N1.09bn contract scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, a self-proclaimed native doctor and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, his wife before a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti over an alleged N1.09 billion fraud.

The couple was brought before Justice Abubakar Usman on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and retention of suspected proceeds of crime.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly convinced a widow and proprietor of a private school, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, to invest in a road construction project they claimed had been awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The EFCC alleged that between January 2024 and November 2025, the couple collected a total of N1,098,961,500 from the victim under the guise of executing the contract.

Investigators said the funds were paid into Taiwo’s bank account, but the contract representation was allegedly false.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court.

Following their plea, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants pending the determination of the case.

Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the matter to June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

The court also ordered that the couple be remanded in EFCC custody pending further proceedings.