A 27-year old man, Abdulrahman Afolabi, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling the owner of Exodus Hotel of N5m under the false pretence of buying alcoholic drinks which turned out to be false.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between 1st January to 8th April, 2026, at Exodus Hotel located at De Anchor Street, Safu Estate, NNPC bus stop, Ayobo, Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect collected the money in question to buy the drinks but he did not do so. Rather he bolted away with the money and disconnected every communication he had with the complainant.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ayobo Division. The suspect was later arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Abdulrahman Afolabi ‘M’ on the 1″ January 2026 to 8th of April, 2026 between the hours of 1500hrs to 22:00hrs at Exodus Hotel of No 12. De Anchor Street, Safu Estate, NNPC bus stop, Ayobo, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully obtain the sum of Five million Naira N5,000, 000 under false pretense that you will use it to buy alcoholic drinks for Exodus Hotel, which were to be used at the bar section to serve customers, which you failed to do and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 314 and punishable under Section 314(3) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Abdulrahman Afolabi ‘M’ on the date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Five million Naira (N5,000,000), property of Exodus Hotel and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, 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, Miss F.R. Ogunkoyede, 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 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.