By Lawanson Oluwatope
Lagos – A middle-aged businessman, Peter Akinyemi, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court over an alleged N2.8 million fraud.
Akinyemi, a resident of Ikotun area, a Lagos suburb, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, said the accused obtained N2.8 million from the complainant, Emmanuel Osho, to invest in a hotel business.
“The accused collected the money from the complainant on the pretext of investing it in a hotel business, a representation he knew to be false,” the prosecutor said.
He said that the accused committed the offences sometimes in October, 2014 at the Ikotun area of Lagos.
“Akinyemi collected the money from the complainant, and refused to pay back as at when due, as agreed, and absconded.
“All efforts by the complainant to get the accused to refund the money proved abortive, hence the report,’’ Emuerhi said.
He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 provides a three-year jail term for convicted offenders.
Chief Magistrate Sule Amzat admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Amzat said the sureties must be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case until July 5, for mention.
(NAN)
