Lagos – A 40-year-old businessman, Suleiman Ololode, was on Thursday arraigned for allegedly obtaining N400, 000 under the pretext of purchasing a Mitsubishi bus for his customer.
Suleiman is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and theft before an Ejigbo Senior Magistrates’ Court.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 13, at 10 a.m. at 24, Bukima Adelaya Area of Lagos.
“The accused on the said date and time, did fraudulently collect N400,000 from one of his customers, Christian Okonkwo, with the promise that he would purchase a Mitsubishi bus for him, an intention he knew was to be false,“ he said.
Ishaku said that the accused was also charged with stealing N400, 000 from Christian Okonkwo.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 312 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
The NEWS Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 (3) says that a person who obtains by false pretence is guilty of a felony and liable to imprisonment for 15 years.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs J.O. Adeyemi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties that must provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance.
Adeyemi said that the sureties, who must be certified as good citizens, must also be gainfully employed and their addresses verified by the court prosecutor.
She adjourned the case till Jan. 27, 2016 for mention. (NAN)