A 40-year old estate agent, Noah Oluyemi, has been arrested in Lagos State for allegedly swindling four women to the tune of over N4.15m under false pretence of renting out apartment to them, which turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Adisa Coker Street, Ogba area of Lagos State.
The victims, Olagunju Olukemi, Adedoyin Oluwayemi, Olubunmi Atitebi and Modupe Olaniyan, were said to have paid the money after he convinced them that he had an apartment to rent and they believed him.
However, after he had obtained the money, he bolted away, went into hiding and did not provide any apartment for the victims.
The matter was reported to the Police, who moved into action, eventually arrested and detained him for interrogation over his alleged criminal conduct.
During interrogation, he reportedly admitted to have obtained the money but had no apartment to rent out to them and as well had no money to refund them.
The Police subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged fraudulent act, which attracts several years of imprisonment if found guilty.
When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the Court that the defendant collected rent from different tenants in an apartment and converted it to his own use without renting any apartment to the victims.
She also told the Court that the alleged offences contravened Section 280 (1) (a) and is punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.
The prosecutor, Ikhayere, 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. Lateef Owolabi, granted the defendant bail to the sum N400,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified.
The matter was adjourned till 29th May, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.