MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 29-year old man, Akinsanmi Olayinka, has opted to go to prison than to refund the sum of N13.8m he allegedly obtained from a victim, Bada Oluwatimilehin, under the false in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Olayinka, allegedly collected the money from the victim under the false pretence of purchasing a Toyota Camry 2012 model for him. Rather than purchasing and supplying the vehicle as they had agreed, he withheld the money and converted it to his own use.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area P Command, Ipaja. The suspect, Olayinka, was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
While being interrogated, he admitted to have collected the money and did not buy the vehicle as they had agreed before he received the money. He was asked to refund the money but he said he had no money to refund the victim because he had spent it.
When the Police told him that he will be charged to Court and sent to prison for his conduct, he replied that he does not mind going to prison because he was not ready to refund the money to the complainant.
The Police found him culpable and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
Count I: “That you, Akınsanmi Olayinka “M’ on the 10 day of October, 2024 at Ipaja area of Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of Thirteen Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only (N13,800,000.00K) from one Bada Oluwatimilehin ‘M’ in the pretence of purchasing a Toyota Camry 2012 model for him and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
Count II:”That you, Akinsanmi Olayinka ‘M’ on the same date, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently convert to your personal use, the sum of Thirteen Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only (N13,800,000.00K) property of one Bada Oluwatimilehin ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then 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 N2.5m 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 1st November, 2024, 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.