The Oyo State Police Command has arraigned one Ali Muhammed before a magistrate court in Ogbomoso for allegedly defrauding the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, of the sum of N39.5 million under the guise of selling him a vehicle through a purported Nigerian Customs Service auction.
Muhammed, aged 45, was docked on December 23, 2025, on a four-count charge bordering on fraud and impersonation. The charges were filed before the Ogbomoso Magistrate Court under suit number MOC/234c/C/2025.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly presented himself as the Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service in Oyo State and convinced the traditional ruler that he could facilitate the auction of a vehicle purportedly seized and scheduled for sale by the Customs Service.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect’s representation was false and formed the basis upon which the monarch was induced to part with the N39.5 million, believing the transaction to be legitimate and officially sanctioned.
The police described the act as criminal impersonation and fraudulent obtaining, offences said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Volume II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The charge sheet read: “That you ALI MUHAMMED ‘M and others now at large, between the 12th day of October, 2025, and 19th day of October, 2025, at Oja-Igbo area, Ogbomoso, in the Ogbomoso Magisterial district did Conspire with one another to commit felony to wit: Obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“COUNT II: – That you ALI MUHAMMED ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district with intent to defraud Obtain the sum of Thirty-Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#39,500,000:00) from HRM Oba Ghandi Olaoye ‘m’ under the pretence of selling aunctioned vehicles and bags of rice to him which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“COUNT III: – That you ALI MUHAMMED ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did steal and fraudulently convert the sum of Thirty-Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#39,500,000:00) to your own use property of HRM Oba Ghandi Olaoye ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“COUNT IV: – That you ALI MUHAMMED ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did falsely represent yourself to be the Comptroller of customs, Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu ‘m’ with intent to defraud HRM Oba Ghandi Olaoye ‘m’ of the sum of Thirty-Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#39,500,000:00) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Qyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
The suspect pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when read to him. He was granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties living within the court’s jurisdiction.
The matter has been adjourned January 28, 2026 for hearing.
