The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Nigerian-American, Oluwatobi Adegoke, over alleged vehicle import fraud involving more than $320,000.
Adegoke was arraigned by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, on a one-count charge of stealing.
The defendant was arrested in July 2026 over allegations that he was involved in a cross-border vehicle import fraud targeting Nigerians.
According to the commission, preliminary investigations indicated that Adegoke allegedly belonged to a United States-based syndicate that defrauded unsuspecting Nigerians under the pretext of purchasing and shipping vehicles from America.
The EFCC alleged that while residing in the United States, Adegoke advertised photographs of a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG to prospective Nigerian buyers, claiming he could procure and ship the luxury vehicle to them.
Investigators further alleged that two victims paid a combined sum exceeding $320,000, equivalent to more than ₦434.88 million, in connection with the transaction.
However, the charge filed before the court cited an alleged incident in December 2024 involving $680,000 belonging to Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike.
The charge alleged that Adegoke dishonestly converted the money, transferred to the bank account of his company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G-Wagon from a person identified as Mr Robinson.
The alleged offence is punishable under Sections 278(1)(b) and 285(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Adegoke pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Arazeem Adebayo, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant.
Defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, had earlier objected to the arraignment but was overruled by the court. He was also overruled when he requested that his client be remanded in EFCC custody pending the filing of a bail application.
The case is expected to proceed to trial, where the allegations against the defendant will be determined.
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