CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 34-year-old man, Oscar Martins, was on March 6, 2026, arraigned before an Ojo Magistrate Court over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing the sum of $6,600 USD belonging to one Emmanuel Martins.
The defendant appeared before Magistrate L.K.J. Layeni on a 3-count charge filed by the Commissioner of Police.
According to the charge sheet with Charge No: 03/1/22/2026 and Marge Sheet No: 2023, the incident occurred on the 29th day of February, 2026 at Oke Agbo Area of Oto-Awori LCDA, Ojo, within the Ojo Magisterial District.
Police prosecutor, SP Uche Simeon, told the court that the defendant conspired with others now at large to commit felony, to wit: stealing. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count II, the prosecutor alleged that Oscar Martins and others at large, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Six Thousand, Six Hundred United States Dollars equivalent to Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira, N8,500,000.00, property of Emmanuel Martins.
The prosecutor stated that the defendant obtained the money under the pretence of helping the complainant to convert the said dollars to Naira, but failed to do so.
In Count III, the defendant was accused of dishonestly converting the said sum of $6,600 USD to his personal use without the consent of the rightful owner. The offence is punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge further stated that the act of obtaining money under false pretence is punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case was filed by CSP Jacob Jiya Gana, Divisional Police Officer, Ilemba-Hausa Division, Lagos State. The matter was investigated by Inspector Mary Obadeyan of Ilemba-Hausa Police Station.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, SP Uche Simeon, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The Court ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions. The matter was adjourned for mention.
Legal experts note that under Lagos State law, obtaining by false pretence and stealing can attract several years imprisonment if the defendant is found guilty by the Court. The Police have urged residents to be wary of persons offering foreign exchange conversion deals without proper documentation.
The defendant is presumed Innocent until proven guilty by the Court of competent jurisdiction.