Businessman docked for alleged N1.2m fraud

The Police, on Wednesday, arraigned a 33-year-old man, Olamilekan Adio, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence.

The accused person, whose house address was not provided, is being tried on a three-count charge of fraudulent representation, stealing and causing a breach of peace before Magistrate L K. J. Layeni.

The prosecutor, Dr Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in October 2022.

He alleged that the defendant obtained the sum of N1.19 million from the complainant, one Mrs Obi Oluchi, under the pretext of buying goods and renting a shop for himself.

He told the court that the defendant had promised to pay back the money to the complainant, after getting a shop and buying the goods.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused person deliberately collected the money and absconded, refusing to pay back knowing the representation to be false.

He, however, said the police operatives later apprehended the accused person who had tried to resist arrest, conducting himself in a manner likely to breach public peace.

According to him, the offences contravene the provisions of sections 168, 287, and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until Dec. 13 for mention.