Lagos – Two property developers, Tunde Maleek and Olabayo Kamal, were on Tuesday charged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding 286 accommodation seekers of N26 million.
The duo, Maleek (43) and Kamal (38), residing in the Ogba area of Lagos, are standing trial on a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretenses, conspiracy and stealing.
The Prosecutor, ASP. Erasmus Ibekwe, told the court that the accused, and others at large, committed the offences between Nov. 2014 and Sept. at No. 7 Oduroye St., Ogba, Lagos.
He said that they obtained the money from 286 accommodation seekers under the guise of securing accommodation for them at No. 7 Oduroye St., Ogba, a Lagos suburb.
Ibekwe explained that before the end of 2014, the duo, had defrauded each of all the 286 accommodation seekers and absconded with a total of N26 million, leaving them stranded.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
According to him, the persons swindled by the defendants included Adenike Adeleke, Jumoke Olaoye, Jide Anthony and Adewunmi Daramola, among others.
The offences, Ibekwe said, contravened Sections 409, 312 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 stipulates that any person who by any false pretences, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person, is liable to 15 years imprisonment.
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr P.A Ojo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties each, in like sum.
He adjourned the case till Dec. 7, for substantive trial. (NAN)