MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 36-year old man, Olayinka Babalola, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling two schools, which gave him about N1.5m to register over 50 students for WAEC/SSCE and he failed to do so.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between January and February, 2025, at Orile Iganmu, Lagos.
His alleged conduct left the students stranded because he did not register them for the examination and as well did not return the money to the schools to refund the students parents. The alleged fraud was reported to the Police at Orile Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Olayinka Babalola ‘m’ between the January and February 2025, at Orile Iganmu, Lagos in the Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Naira (N373,000.00) under pretence of registering eight student for WAEC/SSCE May/June 2025, property of one Ebere Uche of Fidex College and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the criminal laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Olayinka Babalola ‘m’ on the same date and place in aforementioned Magisterial district, did steal the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Naira (N373,000.00), property of one Ebere Uche of Fidex College and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 (9)(b) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Olayinka Babalola ‘m’ between the period of 18th March 2025 to 16th April, 2025, at Orile Iganmu, Lagos in the Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of One Million Three hundred and Nine Thousand Naira (N1,309,000.00)under pretence of registering Forty Five (45) student for WAEC/SSCE May/June 2025, property of one Saka Babatunde ‘m’ of Regin College and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Olayinka Babalola ‘m’ on the same date and place in aforementioned Magisterial district, did steal the sum of One Million Three hundred and Nine Thousand Naira (N1,309,000.00), property of one Saka Babatunde ‘m’ of Regin College and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 (9)(b) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Mberev Merve, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. F.M.Kayode-Alamu, granted him bail with sureties, 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 pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.