Nigerian Publisher Macmillan Charged With 65 Million Naira Book Fraud

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

Before the Ikeja Special Offences Court, the defendants face an amended six-count charge of obtaining money under false pretenses.

“Macmillan Nigeria Publisher, Prof. Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, got books worth $156,711.87 for sale under false pretenses from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia,” according to the charge sheet.

It claimed that the defendants pledged to sell the books and remit the earnings within two weeks after receiving the bill of lading under false pretenses.

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

Mr Fasasi, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Fasasi was detained in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre by Justice Mojisola Dada, who also delayed the matter till July 8 for a bail application hearing.