* Pix source: Peplnews.com
Gbenga Ogunbufunmi
A Federal High Court , Lagos presided over by Justice Mauren Onyentenu today, ordered the remand of two estate agents, Mufutau Ishola and Alimot Adenike Balogun, who were arraigned before her for allegedly defrauded over 89 accommodation seekers to the tune of N55 million
Justice Onyentenu ordered that the accused be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services, till the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
The two estate agents were arraigned before Justice Onyentenu by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi-Lagos, on 90 counts charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
The prosecutor, Mr. Jaiyeola Oloruntoba, a Superintendent of Police had told the court that the defendants committed the offences between May 2019 and June 2020.
He told the court that defendants and one Alhaja Mosurat Salawu, now at large, by false pretence, fraudulently obtained the said sum from the victims under the pretence that they have different types of apartments at No. 6, Olasunu Street, by Golden Park Estate, Sangotedo Ajah, Lagos State, to let out.
Among those alleged defrauded by the defendants include: Amusat Sadiku; Eziafa Henry; Omotoyosi Olanrewaju; Valentine Bahngong Inyang; Okafor Ifeoma Lilian; Omage Judith; Raphael Abilene; Ojo Yetunde Adedokun; Golden Iruayenama; Gideon Onyebuchi Chilaka; Chidima Onuoha; Courage Uko Simon and 76 others.
The offences committed by the defendants according to the prosecution are contrary to sections 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the 90 counts charge and their lawyer, Mr. Jibril Jijil, told the court that he had filed their bail applications,but however, that he needed time to file a further and better affidavits, in view of the counter filed by the prosecution.
The prosecutor, Mr. Oloruntoba, however, did not oppose to the defence counsel application for more time.
Justice Onyentenu, while adjourning the matter till November 3, for hearing and determination of the defendants’ bail application, ordered that the two defendants be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NSC).
