LAGOS – A 36-year-old estate agent, Liadi Olatunji, on Friday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding an accommodation seeker of N230,000.
Olatunji, who gave no fixed residential address, was charged with obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
The police prosecutor, Sgt. Phillip Osijale, told the court that the estate agent committed the crime on Nov. 1, 2013, at Obadina Sreet, Lagos Island, Lagos.
Osijale said that Olatunji induced Mr Folarin Anjorin to part with N230, 000 under the pretext that he would provide a one room “self contained” apartment for him.
According to Osijale, the accused converted the money to his own use and never provided the accommodation he promised the complainant.
The prosecutor added that all efforts by Anjorin to contact the accused for a refund of his money proved abortive.
He said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for anyone convicted of the offence of obtaining by false pretences.
Anjorin was present in court as a witness for the prosecution.
The estate agent, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. Botoku, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety in like sum.
Botoku adjourned the case till May 26, for continuation of hearing. (NAN)