16 July 2021 | Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged the former country director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Nigeria with serious financial misconduct.

In court on July 13, Omosebi Fred Adeola was charged with 11 counts of crimes, including abuse of office and diversion of funds amounting to 15,619,000 Nigerian Naira (over 37,900 USD)

Adeola is accused of diverting relief funds for personal use, including his Ph.D studies at Babcock University. The EFCC also claims he fraudulently put his wife on the denominational payroll.

National media outlets including PM News Nigeria have widely quoted Count 2 of the charges:

Count 2 reads:

“That you, OMOSEBI FRED ADEOLA, being an employee and the Country Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria, and in that capacity entrusted with the funds of the Agency, and being a signatory to the various bank accounts of the Agency, on or about the 13th December, 2017, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit Criminal Breach of Trust by transferring the sum of Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Naira (N7,714,000) from the account of Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria to the account of Ayeni Gbenga Joseph domiciled with Diamond/Access Bank with account number 0078083764, which was cashed and the sum of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,500,000) was given to you in cash by Ayeni Gbenga Joseph on your instruction, thus converting the said sum of N2,500,000 to your own use, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990, and punishable under the same Section 312 of the same Law.”

Adeola pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, granted Adeola bail and adjourned the case until September 30 for trial.

Pictured: Omosebi Fred Adeola

Image credit: EFCC

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