Man, 51, Arraigned For Swindling Company Of N85m Under False Pretence

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 51-year old man,  John Kennedy Otagada, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a company, Gidi Credit Ltd, of the sum of N85m under false pretence.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 10th March, 2025, in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

According to the Police, the suspect went to the company, collected credit and promised to pay the money at a certain date with conditions attached.

However, after he collected the money,  he bolted away, disconnected every communication he had with the company and went into hiding.

The matter was reported to the Monitoring Unit of the Commissioner of Police at the Lagos State Command. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspect at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

After interrogation, he was found culpable and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

“That you, John Kennedy Otagada ‘m’ on the 10th of March 2025 at about 1000hrs at Ikeja Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Eighty Five Million Naira (N85,000,000.00) property of Gidi Credit Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, John Kennedy Otagada ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did obtain Eighty Five Million Naira (N85,000,000.00) only from Gidi Credit Ltd, under a pretence to obtain credit for yourself, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, 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, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned 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.