A 28-year old man, Edwin Ekene Itodo, has been arrested in Lagos State for allegedly swindling three job seekers to the tune of the sum of N1.2m under false pretences of securing non existing jobs for them and it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ayerowi Street, Igando area of Lagos, where they reside.
According to the Police, the suspect, Itodo, allegedly contacted the victims, Benedict Okon, Samson Sunday and Felix Musa, that he was in charge of employing workers in a company known as ONET and asked them to pay the amount, which they did.
However, trouble started after he obtained the money from them and promised to give them the jobs, which he never did rather he bolted away with their money and disconnected every communication with them.
Having waited for him in vain, they started trailing him and eventually located his house. They went there to demand for their money only for him to lock his gate and beat them mercilessly before he allowed them to go.
The matter was reported to the Police at Igando Division and Itodo was arrested. He was detained at the Police Station for interrogation over his conduct and he admitted to have collected the money to give them jobs but had no work to give them.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court on five counts of conspiracy, fraud and breach of peace.
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the Court that the defendant and one person currently at large committed the offences on between 30th January and 6th February, 2023 and bolted away.
The prosecutor told the Court that the defendant fraudulently obtained N550,000 from one Mr Benedict Okon; N500,000 from one Mr Sampon Sunday and N170,000 from one Felix Musa in the guise of getting jobs for them but did not get the jobs but converted the money to personal use.
He said the offences contravened Sections 168, 172, 272, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Presiding Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The matter was adjourned till 10th March ,2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
She adjourned the case until 10th March, 2023, for mention.