Akure prince arrested for alleged fraud

Mr. Gboyega Adesida

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has apprehended a car dealer, Mr. Gboyega Adesida, for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect, who is the younger brother of Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, allegedly defrauded one Abolade Shittu, of N10m.

The victim’s lawyer, Adefila Shittu, told our correspondent that his client had given the suspect five cars to sell for N10m.

He told PUNCH Metro that after selling the cars, the suspect refused to give the victim his money

He said, “Abolade approached Gboyega some five months ago and gave him five vehicles to sell for N10m. After weeks of waiting, he called Gboyega to know how far he had gone with the business but Gboyega said he had sold all the vehicles on credit to someone in Port Harcourt.

“This sounded suspicious because no wise businessman sells five vehicles on credit at the same time. Abolade continued to hassle Gboyega for the money but he was not forthcoming.

“One of Gboyega’s workers then disclosed that Gboyega had actually been paid in full but was only refusing to remit the money.”

Adefila told our correspondent that as Gboyega continued to dilly-dally; life became hard for his client, who had tied down all his money on the business.

He said, “Abolade imported the vehicles and was hoping to pay his licensed customs clearing agent from proceeds he had anticipated from selling the cars. Unfortunately, he also defaulted due to Gboyega’s dilly-dallying.

“The agent got Abolade arrested and he was detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for two weeks.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that after Abolade’s release, he set out to get his money from Gboyega.

It was learnt that he went to see Gboyega and he (Gboyega) issued two cheques worth N10m.

“When the cheques were presented, they bounced. At that point, we had no choice but to involve EFCC because the said N10m was received through bank loan and we could not continue to owe,” Adefila said.

It was alleged that Gboyega continued to remain inaccessible for months as several visits paid to his office by Abolade proved abortive.

EFCC operatives were said to have traced his home in Ibadan and arrested him on Thursday.

When contacted on the telephone, the Head of Operations, EFCC, Iliyasu Kwarbai, confirmed Gboyega’s arrest to our correspondent.

He said the suspect had been released on bail.

When Gboyega was contacted on the telephone, he denied being a fraudster.

He told PUNCH Metro that he had only received the vehicles three months before.

He said, “I am not a fraudster. I am an honest businessman. The man (Abolade), gave me the car just about three months ago. I sold the cars on hire purchase and I told him to wait for another three months but he refused. I have even paid over N1.8m to him.

“He used EFCC to harass me but I was later released because they found out that I had no criminal intention. I will pay him his money.”