A 39-year-old man, Olayinka Salahudeen, who allegedly posed as a police officer to defraud residents of the United Kingdom of N41,833,000, on Monday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, impersonation and fraud.
The prosecutor, ASP Olufemi Olanibi, alleged that the defendant and others still at large conspired to commit the offence of fraud.
Olanibi alleged that sometime in 2025, the defendant, with intent to defraud, falsely represented himself as a member of the Nigeria Police Force.
He alleged that the defendant committed the offence while wearing a police uniform with the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), serving at Iyaganku Police Station, knowing the representation to be false.
Olanibi also alleged that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained N41,833,000 from Foluso Ajuwon and Wemimo Ajuwon, residents of the United Kingdom, who were represented in court by Folasade Adegun.
He alleged that the defendant, on the pretext of procuring landed properties and helping the complainants invest in rice business, obtained the money through his First Bank account number 3127423612.
Olanibi alleged that the defendant obtained the total amount from the complainants’ Access Bank account number 1939533837 and Kuda account number 2049167025, as well as Opay account number 7034336378 and Polaris account number 3030964088.
He said the offences contravened Sections 109(a), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The defence counsel, Mr Ola Ajayi, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Mudashiru ordered that one of the sureties must own a building property with a Certificate of Occupancy, survey and approved building plan within the court’s jurisdiction.
He said the second surety must produce an international passport as a means of identification.
Mudashiru thereafter adjourned the matter until Oct. 15 for hearing.
