A man, Asama Olukunle Felix, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly collecting the sum of N. 5m from Police Inspector, Hammed Olanrewaju, to supply him 10 bags of rice from Seme Border but was unable to do so.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Felix, has been arrested and charged for the alleged fraud and stealing under the Criminal laws of the State.
The incident happened between 19th and 20th December,2024 at Ojo area of Lagos, where the suspect obtained the money and bolted away.
According to the Police, the suspect met the complainant that he had some bags of rice he wanted to sell. He then asked him to pay the money in question for him to supply the bags of the rice, which he did.
However, the complainant waited in vain for him to supply the rice and the suspect disconnected every communication he had with the complainant and did not refund the money either.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ojo Division. The operatives trailed, eventually arrested and detained him at the station for interrogation over his conduct and inability to refund the money since he did not supply the rice as he promised.
During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he had no bags of rice to supply or the money to refund because he had already spent the money the complainants gave to him.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read :
COUNT 1: “That you, Asama Olukunle Felix ‘M’ on the 19th and 20th day of December, 2024 at Ojo Area, in the Ojo Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Inspr. Hammed Olarenwaju ‘M’ under the pretence to supply Ten (10) bags of rice, a presentation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT 2:”That you, Asama Olukunle Felix ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal cash sum of the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) meant for supply of Ten (10) bags of rice, property of one Inspr. Hammed Olarenwaju ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Esther Adesulu, 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.M. Ogun, granted him bail 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 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.