LAGOS – A 62-year-old man, John Egbo, who allegedly obtained N1,480,000 on the pretext of assisting another to buy a Toyota Sienna bus, on Tuesday appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Egbo, a resident of Festac Town area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining by false pretences.
The prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 29, 2013 at 5th Avenue, `N’ Close, Festac Town, Lagos.
Ojaokomo said that the accused fraudulently obtained the sum of N 1,480,000 from Mr Stanley Ubajokwe, on the pretext of assisting him to buy and clear a Sienna bus.
“The complainant said that Egbo told him he had a brother who could help him get a cheap car from London.
“Ubajokwe said that the accused collected N1.3 million to buy the bus and N180,000 for clearing it.
“Egbo, instead of using the money to buy the bus as promised, however, converted it to his own personal use,’’
Ojaokomo said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining by false pretences.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Jan. 19, 2015, for trial. (NAN)
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