The police in Lagos on Friday arraigned a suspected fraudster, Abiola Oladimeji,?on charges that he?duped an accommodation seeker N480,000 under the pretext of helping him secure an apartment. ????
Oladimeji, 38, a resident of Amukoko area of Lagos, is facing a one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences. ?
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
The prosecutor, Cpl. John Iberedem, told the court that the defendant allegedly collected the amount from Mr Ben Obiekomi, under the pretext of?helping him secure a three-bedroom apartment.
Iberedem said that the offence was committed sometimes in Oct. 2009 at No. 11, Warehouse Road, Aguda, Lagos.
He said the suspect disappeared immediately after collecting the money.
The prosecutor said that the defendant failed to provide the accommodation and reneged on the agreement as promised and did not return the money to the complainant.
“Upon agreement to provide accommodation to the complainant and after collecting the sum of N480,000, the accused failed to provide the accommodation or return the money.
“His conduct amounts to obtaining under pretence,’’ Iberedem said.
He said that the alleged offence contravened Section 312 (a) of the Criminal Code,?Laws of Lagos State 2011.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr E. A. Ogundare, granted the defendant N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum.
He said that the surety should show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government and have his address verified by the prosecutor and adjourned further hearing to Oct. 5. (NAN)