A 45-year-old businessman, Austin Ogiemwonyi, who allegedly obtained N1.7 million on the pretext of buying a car, was on Friday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The defendant, who resides at Satellite Town, Lagos, is being tried for obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
he, however, pleaded not guilty.
The defendant committed the offences on May 18 at Satellite Town, according to the prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde.
The prosecutor said that the defendant obtained the sum from one Mr Monday Sunday on the pretext of buying a Toyota Corolla for him.
“After the defendant collected the money from the complainant, he was nowhere to be found.
“Efforts made by the complainant to get the car or retrieve his money proved unsuccessful.
“The defendant was later apprehended by the police,” he told the court.
Ayorinde said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 287 prescribes three years’ imprisonment for stealing while section 314 provides for 15 years’ jail term for obtaining money under false pretences.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. A. Olayinka, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
Olayinka directed that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Nov. 17 for substantive hearing.
