The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has remanded alleged fraudster Solomon Ejiofor at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre following his arraignment over an alleged ₦307 million tax fraud involving funds said to have been collected for the payment of taxes on behalf of Lotus Travels Services Limited.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu ordered Ejiofor’s remand after he was arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force’s Directorate of Legal Services on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, conspiracy and alleged cybercrime-related offences. The charge is marked FHC/LAG/CR/794/2026.
According to the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Augustine Nwabueze, Ejiofor allegedly acted together with other persons who are still at large and represented himself as a tax manager with Forvis Mazars, purportedly acting on behalf of Lotus Travels Services Limited.
The prosecution alleged that between January 2020 and September 2025/2026, Ejiofor collected a total of ₦307 million through two Zenith Bank accounts, allegedly on the understanding that the money would be used to settle taxes payable to the relevant revenue authorities. Instead, the police alleged that the money was diverted for Ejiofor’s personal use, leaving the company exposed to substantial tax debts and liabilities.
The four-count charge includes allegations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in relation to obtaining money by false pretence, as well as allegations of fraudulent conversion and stealing under the Criminal Code. The prosecution also included a conspiracy count tied to the alleged manipulation of financial records and tax remittances under the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.
Ejiofor, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Following his plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand him in custody pending the continuation of proceedings.
His counsel informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution and told Justice Dipeolu that the defence was ready to move the application immediately. Nwabueze, however, opposed the application being heard on the same day. He told the court that the prosecution had only received the bail application that morning and needed time to study the documents and file a response.
After hearing both sides, Justice Dipeolu ordered that Ejiofor be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of his bail application. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 26 for hearing of the bail application and further proceedings.
The allegations against Ejiofor remain unproven, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution establishes the charges against him before the court.