Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Professor Adesanya Adelekan, and one Bola Fasasi have been charged with $156, 700 book fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The duo were arraigned on Monday  before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on an amended six-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, 

The anti-graft agency said that the Publisher, Adelekan, was at large.

The commission stated in the charge sheet:  “Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, obtained books worth $156,711.87 for sale  by false pretences from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia.”

It said that the defendants,  under false pretences, promised to sell the books and remit the proceeds within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading.

“Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to obtain goods by false pretences, property of BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia”, it added.

Fasasi, however, pleaded not guilty.

Justice Mojisola Dada remanded Fasasi in Ikoyi Correctional Centre, and adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing of his bail application.