2 docked over alleged N360, 000 fraud

NAN-H-19
Fraud
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) Two men: Samuel Olaniyan, 60, and Raphael Uchenna, 30, were on Wednesday docked at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N360,000 under false pretences.
The accused are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
Olaniyan, a caretaker, and Uchenna, a businessman, both residents of Agege, a Lagos suburb, were alleged to have sublet a shop without remitting the money to the land lady.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 18 at Shop A5, Oke-Odo Market, Abule-Egba, Lagos.
Ajebe said that the accused promised to secure a shop in the market for the complainant, one Saheed Akanmu.
The duo connived and collected N360, 000 from the complainant which later led to a misunderstanding between himself and the landlady of the shop
Ajebe said the accused failed to remit the money to the landlady but converted it to their personal use.
“When the complainant got to the shop, he discovered that the accused and his accomplice had collected money for the same shop from other people.
“They were arrested and taken to the police station for further questioning,’’ the prosecutor said.
The offences contravened Sections 57, 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year imprisonment for stealing while Section 312 prescribes 15 years for obtaining under false pretences.
The court, however, granted the accused N100,000 bail and a surety each in the like sum.
Chief Magistrate Alexander Komolafe ruled that the surety must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government (LASG).
Komolafe adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for mention. (NAN)
LAW/DEB/PAD
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Edited by Debo Oshundun, controlled by Peter Dada