NAN-H-47
Fraud
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) A commercial tryclist, Godwin Okereke, who allegedly defrauded a passenger of N205,000, was on Wednesday hauled up before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Okereke, 39, a resident of Bola Oyewo in Obawole, a Lagos suburb, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretences and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, told the court that the offences were committed on April 15 at 10.00 a.m. at Iju-Ishaga, a suburb of Lagos.
Ishaku said the accused and three others still at large, conspired to defraud the woman, Mosebolatan Tobi, who boarded his tricycle, of N205, 000.
“The complainant, on her way from work, boarded the tricycle being driven by the accused.
“While alighting from the tricycle, the accused grabbed and took her to a location at Iju-Ishaga.
“They collected N205,000 from her and kept threatening her to bring more money to help solve her spiritual problems,’’ Ishaku said.
=
He said several months later, the accused came to defraud the complainant again but she recognised him.
“Suspecting that they are fraudsters, the complainant raised an alarm and they were caught and handed over to the police.”
The offences contravened Sections 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 provides 15 years for false pretences.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr J. A. Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a community leader.
The case adjourned the case till Nov. 4 for mention.(NAN)
LAW/AIB/DA
==========
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Dele Akinsola