Nigerian Fabric Seller Alleges Threat To Life Over Wife’s Alleged N325Million Company Fraud, Denies Involvement

Aman identified as Akorede Edris has accused one Mr Atolagbe Sholadiran Joseph of threatening his life over allegations linked to a fraud case he claims to have no involvement in.

Mr Akorede, who sells fabrics, explained that the situation stems from his wife’s role as a secretary at Desholly Nigeria Limited, where she was accused of defrauding the company.

According to Mr Akorede, his wife often transferred money to his account to assist her in purchasing fabrics for their joint business. He stressed that these transactions were strictly related to his fabric business, and the funds were used solely for that purpose.

Mr Akorede alleges that Mr Joseph is not only threatening his life but also attempting to seize his property. The fabric seller’s name was reportedly mentioned during the investigation because of the money transferred into his account by his wife.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, Mr Akorede expressed his frustration, and disclosed that he had been arrested and detained despite his lack of involvement in the alleged fraud.

He insists that his business is legitimate, stating that he also runs a farm, and is now fighting to clear his name amid threats to his safety.

“This man accused me of having a sexual relationship with my stepdaughter. He even confessed to me that he’s no longer with my wife, but is now with her daughter.

“He likes everyone to beg him, but I don’t work under him, and he can’t control me. He was having an affair with my wife, and he still expects me to beg him. I won’t. If he wants to take this matter to court, then let’s go to court, but he shouldn’t use his influence to intimidate me.

“I’m not illiterate. Just because he has money, he thinks he can do whatever he wants in his own territory,” Mr Akorede said.

Narrating how he was detained by the police over the issue, Mr Akorede said, “On that particular day, he brought two lawyers: one was named Vivian, and I don’t remember the other one’s name, but he was a man. The man drafted an agreement and asked me to sign it, I told them I needed to review it before I could sign.

“The IPO (Investigating Police Officer) started pressuring me, saying, ‘Aren’t you tired of being here? You’ve been here for almost six days. You haven’t taken a shower for six days, you haven’t brushed your teeth, and you haven’t done anything.’ They treated me like a criminal, but I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“He even told me to sell my property. I mentioned this before, and he demanded that I bring my vehicle. That was the first time. He talked about how they sent money to one Mark and one Dave. But when I saw the money, I used my vehicle as collateral to secure the funds for my wife at that time.

“So when she told me that someone deposited money into my account, I said, ‘Okay, no problem.’ I used that money to buy back my car from the person I had borrowed the money from.

“I thought it over carefully. This man even suggested I should sell my farm. Why would I sell my property because of him and his concubine?”

He continued, “I’m not going to apologize to this man, and I never will. That’s who I am. He wants me to submit to him, but he’s not God. He may have money, and he may have some influence in his circle, but he’s not my God.”

“I refuse to apologize. If he wants to go to court, I’ll be there. I’m not afraid of this matter anymore. The only thing I’m concerned about is my safety and security because I know the kind of person he is,” he added.

When SaharaReporters contacted Mr Atolagbe Sholadiran Joseph, he said a total of N325 million was stolen from his company under the nose of Akorede’s wife, Oguntola Funmilayo.

He said Funmilayo promised to return N52 million and also signed an agreement to refund N29 million and N78 million respectively.

He stated, “I’m not after anybody, and I never threatened anyone’s life. I also did not tell him to sell his car or farm—why would I? He was the one who mentioned that he would sell his properties to save his wife from the mess.

“I can provide you with a clip where he said it; he said it in my office when he came to see me. Everything was recorded by the CCTV camera.”

Mr Joseph revealed that Akorede’s wife served as a secretary in his office and, along with Mustapha Olalekan and others still at large, defrauded him of N78,954,000.

Mr Joseph told SaharaReporters that most of the stolen funds were traced to Akorede, who has claimed innocence. Some funds were also traced to her parents and her pastor, Mr Joseph said.

“When her parents were arrested, they admitted that she had sent money to them, claiming they didn’t know it was stolen. I immediately asked for their release. She also transferred N500,000 to her pastor, which she said was for tithes. The pastor later refunded the money,” he said.

Mr Joseph added that Mr Akorede’s wife and her parents came to apologize, and he has forgiven them. He said, “We have all sinned, and God forgives us, so who am I not to forgive them?”

According to Mr Joseph, Akorede signed an agreement to refund the stolen funds, but after signing and gaining freedom from the police, he ran away. Mr Joseph said Mr Akorede then called to accuse him of having an affair with his wife and stepdaughter.

“Akorede has done nothing to offend me directly, and he never worked under me. His offence is that stolen funds were traced to his account. Why is he running if he knows he’s not guilty?” Mr Joseph said.

Mr Joseph added that all he wants from Mr Akorede is an apology, and he will forgive him and forget about the matter.

“We bring nothing into this world, and we take nothing to heaven when we die,” he said.

Efforts to reach SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, for comments on the issue – especially as the parties mentioned police involvement in the matter – were unsuccessful, as he did not answer his calls or reply to the messages sent to him.

Meanwhile, a document obtained by SaharaReporters shows that Mrs. Oguntola Funmilayo was charged to court, with Mr Akorede standing as her surety and signing on her behalf.

The alleged suspects mentioned are Oguntola Funmilayo, Mustapha Olalekan, Babatunde Idris, and others still at large.

The suit No: M/14/24-Ref-AR: 3000/OGS/AGB/Vol.8/19 reads:

“That you, OGUNTOLA FUNMILAYO ‘F’, MUSTAPHA OLALEKAN ‘M’, BABATUNDE IDRIS ‘M’, and others at large, between January 2022 and June 2024 at De-Sholly Enterprise, Agbara, in the Agbara Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing and receiving stolen property, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1 Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

“COUNT II: That you, OGUNTOLA FUNMILAYO ‘F’ and MUSTAPHA OLALEKAN ‘M’, in the same year and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N78,954,000, proceeds of sales belonging to DE-SHOLLY ENTERPRISES, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Vol. 1 Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

“COUNT III: That you, OGUNTOLA FUNMILAYO ‘F’ and BABATUNDE IDRIS ‘M’, in the same year and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N29,632,000, proceeds of sales belonging to DE-SHOLLY ENTERPRISES, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Vol. 1 Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

Also, a contractual agreement was executed on June 24, 2024, between Oguntola Funmilayo and Akorede Eedris of No. 7 Bamidele Street, Iga Ndo, Alhaji Ede, Lagos State, and DeSholly Nigeria Limited, as represented by Atolagbe Joseph Sholadiran of DeSholly Filling Station, situated along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Agbara.

The agreement reads: “A total sum of N52,000,000.00 (FIFTY-TWO MILLION NAIRA) was fraudulently stolen and taken away from DeSholly Nigeria Limited at DeSholly Filling Station along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Agbara, by the above-listed names.”

“The names listed above acknowledged and agreed unanimously that they were involved in the act.

“After much deliberation on the matter, the duo unanimously agreed to refund the total amount and equally agreed to return a substantial part of the amount within the next two weeks from today, 24th June 2024, to the director of DeSholly Nig. Ltd., without failure.

“The two listed names also agreed that after this first payment, due by 10th July 2024, they would make additional payments on a gradual basis at the end of each month.

“The two names further agreed that if they failed to fulfil their obligations under this agreement, DeSholly Nig. Ltd. reserves the legal right to take them to court to commence legal proceedings in respect of the matter.”