EFCC Arraigns Nigerian-American Over Alleged $320,000 Vehicle Import Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Nigerian-American, Oluwatobi Adegoke, before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, over an alleged vehicle import fraud involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Adegoke was arraigned on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a one-count charge bordering on stealing.
According to the commission, the defendant was arrested in July 2026 over an alleged international vehicle import fraud involving more than $320,000, equivalent to approximately ₦434.88 million.
Preliminary investigations reportedly linked Adegoke to a United States-based syndicate allegedly involved in defrauding Nigerians under the pretence of purchasing and shipping vehicles from the US.
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 purchase and ship the luxury vehicle to them.
Investigators further alleged that two victims paid a combined sum exceeding $320,000 in connection with the transaction.
However, the charge presented before the court contained a reference to $680,000 allegedly belonging to Ikechukwu Osita Ifeabunike. The money was said to have been transferred to the bank account of Adegoke’s company, Omosco Auto Sales LLC, for the purchase of a 2022 G-Wagon from a person identified as Mr Robinson.
Adegoke pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Arazeem Adebayo, urged the court to adjourn the matter for trial and order the defendant’s remand in a correctional facility.
Defence counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, had earlier opposed the arraignment but was overruled by the court. He subsequently requested that his client be remanded in EFCC custody pending the filing of a bail application. The request was also rejected.
Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently ordered that Adegoke be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the case until January 13, 2027, for trial.
