A 45-year-old man, Ali Muhammed, has been arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, for allegedly defrauding the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, of ₦39.5m under the guise of selling an auctioned vehicle purportedly from the Nigerian Customs Service.
Muhammed was arraigned on Monday, December 23, by the Oyo State Police Command on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, stealing, and impersonation.
According to the charge sheet marked MOC/234c/C/2025, the defendant allegedly posed as the Comptroller of Customs in Oyo State and induced the monarch to part with the money with the promise of selling him auctioned vehicles and bags of rice.
The prosecution told the court that the alleged offences were committed between October 12 and October 19, 2025, at the Oja-Igbo area of Ogbomoso, within the Ogbomoso Magisterial District.
Count one alleged that Muhammed and others now at large conspired to commit a felony by obtaining money under false pretence, stealing, and impersonation, offences contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
In count two, the defendant was accused of fraudulently obtaining the sum of ₦39.5m from Oba Olaoye under the pretence of selling auctioned vehicles and bags of rice, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code.
Count three accused Muhammed of stealing and fraudulently converting the said sum to his personal use, contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code.
The fourth count alleged that the defendant falsely represented himself as the Comptroller of Customs, Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, with intent to defraud the monarch, an offence punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code.
Muhammed pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of ₦5m with two sureties, who must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned till January 28, 2026, for hearing.
