The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Macmillan Nigeria Publishers alongside Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan and Bola Fasasi before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged $922m fraud.

The defendants were arraigned on Thursday, February 2, 2023 on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $922m (Nine Hundred and Twenty-two Million United State Dollars).

One of the counts reads: “ That you, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Prof. Adesanya lyiola Adelekan and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to obtain goods by false pretense, property of BHS Book Printing SD BHD of Selangor Malaysia and committed an offence of conspiracy to commit felony to wit: Obtaining goods by false pretence , contrary to Section 10(1)(2) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.”

Another count reads: “That you, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers, Prof. Adesanya lyiola Adelekan and Bola Fasasi, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, obtained books for sale worth $226,900.00 USD by false pretence, from BHS Book Printing SD BHD of Selangor Malaysia under the pretense that you would sell the books and remit the money from the sales within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading, which pretence you knew or ought to know is false and committed the offence of obtaining goods by false pretence, contrary to Section 1 (1)(c) and (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.”

They pleaded not guilty to the offence.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Ayanfe Ogunsina, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

Justice Dada adjourned the matter to March 31, 2023 and remanded the defendants in the EFCC custody.


Media & Publicity

06/02/2023