The State Security Service (SSS) has arraigned six dismissed members of staff of Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, over alleged forgery of tax receipts to dupe unsuspecting citizens under false pretence.

The six defendants are Olanrewaju Adesoye, Mayowa Nelson Ajisafe, Matthew Ilesanmi Olanrewaju, Olorunfemi Osho, Joseph Sunday Balogun and Ajayi Temidayo.

The legal officer of SSS, Olaolu Olayinka, who is the prosecutor, told the court that the defendants sometimes between October and November at Ado-Ekiti did conspire to commit an offence to wit, obtaining money by false pretence.

The prosecutor added that they obtained N1,795,000 from Olumide Damilola, Ayeni Rachael Fummilayo, Fakunle Olasunkanmi Olatunbosun, Ogidi Kayode Emmanuel and others.

Olayinka said that the original case file had been transmitted to the Ministry of Justice to take over the case pending the issuance of the legal advice from the Director of DPP, Ekiti State.

All the six defendants pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge against them.

Meanwhile, counsel to the defendants, Timi Omotoso, urged the court to grant bail to the accused.

The Magistrate, Ojo Adeosun, granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each to the defendants with three sureties who must have landed property in Ado-Ekiti.

The case was adjourned till Friday, January 26, 2024.