Bureau de change operator faces N2.1m fraud

A 41-year-old bureau de change operator, Nura Mohammed, was on Friday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N2.1 million.

Mohammed, who resides at Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State, is facing a one-count charge of stealing.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, the accused committed the offence on Nov. 17 at Agege, Lagos.

He said that the accused bolted with $6,400, equivalent to N2.1 million, belonging to Mr Mukiler Mufutau.

“The complainant’s brother, who lives in the United States, sent $6,400 into the accused account, who claimed to be a bureau de change operator.

“When the complainant got to the accused office to collect the money, the accused was nowhere to be found, as he had packed to unknown destination.

“Efforts made to trace him proved unsuccessful as he refused to pick the complainant’s calls,” he said.

Ayorinde said that the accused was later arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he relocated to.

The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

Our correspondent reports that the section attracts three years jail term.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 21, for mention.