House Agent, 47, Docked For Swindling Client Of N7.7m Over Lease Of Bungalow

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 47-year old agent, Esu Mfon, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling his client, Adegun Adeola, to the tune of the sum of N7.7m under the false pretence of leasing a 5-bedroom bungalow, which turned to be a scam. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Unity Estate, Egbeda area of Lagos.

According to the Police, the complainant paid for the accommodation in question for the three years lease with the intention that the bungalow met the standard described by the agent only for him to later inspect the house and discovered that it was a ramshackled house and he also collected N2.1m as fee for agency services.

The complainant then demanded for the refund of his money from the agent. Instead of the refund, the agent wrote a petition against the complainant to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu, for alleged threat to his life over the demand.

Thus, the Police summoned the complainant for interrogation and discovered that the agent was fictitious about the petition against Adeola. He was found culpable and charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the false allegations.

The charges read:

COUNT 1: That you, Esu Mfon on the 12 day of June, 2024 at about 10:00hrs at Unity Estate Egbeda in the Lagos State Magisterial district, did fraudulently collect the sum of N7,700,000.00 property of one Adeogun Adeola “M” to lease to him a ramshackle 5 bedroom bungalow and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

COUNT II: That you, Esu Mfon in the same place, time and date at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did  collect the sum of N7,700,000.00  property of one Adeogun Adeola “M” and converted it to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

County III: That you, Esu Mfon, in the same place, time and date at the aforementioned Magisterial District did slyly obtain the sum of N7,700,000.00 property of one Adeogun Adeola “M” with pretence to lease to him a 5-bedroom bungalow, which you never did and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT IV: That you, Esu Mfon, in the same place, time and date at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did cunningly collect N2,100,000) property of one Adeogun Adeola “M” as three years Agency fee and converted it to your own use thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT V: That you, Esu Mfon on the 26th of June 2024 at Area ‘M’ Police Command wrote a fictitious petition and statements alleging one Adeogun Adeola “M” for threatening you and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 93 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, 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, K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 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 29th   October, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.