A Kwara State High Court has initiated proceedings against a businessman, Alexander Babarinde, accused of orchestrating a contract scam amounting to N170 million.
Presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, the court ordered Babarinde’s remand in a Federal Correctional Service facility in Ilorin following arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Babarinde, along with his company, Ajays Engineering Limited, and an accomplice, Suleiman Mohammed (currently evading authorities), faces eight counts including obtaining money under false pretenses and forgery.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants duped the complainant by posing as facilitators of various Federal Government contracts, presenting forged contract award letters from government agencies.
According to the EFCC’s statement, investigations revealed that the contracts were non-existent, yet Babarinde managed to swindle N170 million from the victim.
The charges against him include obtaining sums of N30,530,300.00 and N6,655,009.00 from the complainant under false pretenses.
During the arraignment, Babarinde pleaded not guilty to all charges. In response, the EFCC urged the court to remand him in custody and set a trial date.
Consequently, Justice Abdulgafar ordered Babarinde’s remand at the correctional service facility, scheduling the trial to commence on March 13, 2024.
