Man, 29, Opts To Go To Prison Than To Refund N7.6m Stolen From Victim

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 29-year old man, Atabiaka Levi Ayo, has opted to go to prison than to refund over N7.6m, which he allegedly obtained from a victim, Ayomi Tsalu, under false pretence in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Ayo, was arrested by Police operatives from the Area G Command, Ogba, Lagos, over the alleged fraud.

He was asked to refund the money to the victim, Ayomi Tsalu, but he refused. He was told that he will be charged before the Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State, which will land him in prison. He replied that he does not mind going to prison than to refund the money to the owner.

Consequently, he was charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged obtaining under false pretence and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.

According to the Police, the suspect, Ayo, had on April, 2024  at Olanipekun Street, Oke-Ira, Ogba area of Lagos, obtained the money with the promise of paying it back into his account.

However, when he collected the money, he bolted away and disconnected every communication he had with the complainant. The matter was then reported to the Police who moved into action, eventually arrested and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During the interrogation, he admitted to have collected the money and promised to pay the money back into the complainant’s bank account but he did not do as he had promised and was not ready to do so in future. The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Court for the alleged offence.

The charges read:

“That you, Atabiakin Levi Ayo, sometimes in the month of April, 2024 at Olanipekun Street, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District did fraudulently obtain cash sum of N7,665,000.00 from Ayomi Tsalu ‘m’ under the pretence that he will pay it to his account, a presentation you known to be foise and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II:-That you,  Atabiakin Levi Ayo, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal by converting the sum of N7,665,000.00 property of one Ayomi Tsalu ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence, contrary to on 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi granted him bail in the sum of N350,000 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 matter was adjourned till 14th November, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.