Estate Agent Sent To Prison For Alleged Duping 159 Accommodation Seekers

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A 50 years old man, Emmanuel Olajide, who claimed to be an estate agent has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly collecting about N45 million from 159 accommodation seekers with the pretext of renting out a flat, mini flat and a self contained apartments to them.

The accused, according to the Police investigation, used a one-storey building with 13 rooms at 38b, Frank Street, Agboju Amuwo, Lagos to perpetrate the alleged fraud.
Olajide allegedly collected various sums of money ranging from N260,000 and N700,000 from the victims to rent out the apartments to them after he allegedly lied to them that he was the owner of the building.
Police alleged that the victims discovered that they had been duped by the accused when they went back to the building after payment to collect their keys from the agents and met all the apartments had been occupied by other tenants and the agent was nowhere to be found.
Some of the victims include, Titilayo Adeyemi, who paid N700,000 for a flat; Eze Franklin, who paid N260,000 for a room self contained; Ahiyah Anukam paid N250,000; Uche Agetu paid N260,000; Elder Sebastian Mbachu paid N260,000 and Kingsley Umeh, who paid N260,000.
Others included Ngozi Ewelimiku,N100,000; Emeka Freeman, N200,000; Madueke Stanley, N180,000; Okon Joseph,N100,000; Anthonia Anosike,N100,000; Eke George, N150,000 and 142 others.
A police source said that the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of the Zone 2 Command, Lagos, Adamu Ibrahim ordered a team led by Inspector Anthony Sebastian to trace and arrest the accused following a petition by the victims.
Emmanuel was charged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a 159 count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Police Counsel, Chinedu Njoku informed the Court that the accused committed the offence between August and December, 2017 at 38b,Frank Street, Agboju Amuwo, Lagos
Njoku told the Court that the accused used the storey building to collect various sums of money from those 159 house seekers with the pretext of renting accommodation for them, but that after collecting the money from those victims, he converted the money to his use and rented out the 13 apartments in the building to another sets of tenants and escaped.
He said the accused was eventually arrested at a hideout following a tip off.
Njoku said that the offences the accused committed were punishable under sections 314(1) and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Botoku ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till 5,6,7,8 and 9 February,2018 for accelerated trial.