Estate Agent, 64, Arrested For Swindling Client Of N13m Over Landed Property 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 64-year old estate agent, Sunday Asibe, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling his client, Alhaji Suleiman Bawale, to the tune of N13m under the pretence of selling a plot of land to him and it turned out to be a scam.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the estate agent, Asibe, has been arraigned before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos State over his alleged conduct.

The incident happened at Igando area of Lagos, where the agent obtained the money between February, 2024 and May, 2024.

According to the Police, the estate agent informed the complainant that he had a parcel of land for sale. They negotiated for the price and the complainant paid for it unknown to him that it was a scam.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that Asibe, also known as John Asibe, obtained the money in question in two payments from the complainant, Alhaji Bawale, under the pretence of selling a plot of land to him. In February, 2024, he allegedly collected N8m and in May, he took an additional N5 million, both without delivering the promised land as they had agreed.

When the complainant waited in vain for him to deliver the land, the alleged fraud was reported to the Police. The estate agent was then arrested and detained for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

After interrogation, the Police found him culpable because he had no land to sell to the complainant and has spent the money as well. He was subsequently charged for fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.

The prosecutor, Inspector Osuji, told the Court that the charges brought against Asibe violated Sections 313, 280 (1) (a) (b), and are punishable under Sections 314 (1) (a) (b) (3) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Feyikemi George, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The Court also ordered that the sureties are required to provide three months’ bank statements with a balance of at least N1m in the account.

The matter was adjourned till 30th October, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.