MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 41-year old man, Mgbeodinna Onyekachi Julius, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly tricking a food seller and buying cooked food worth over N.5m without payment for one year.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Odejobi Street, Orile Agege, Lagos, where the food seller, Priscilla Aguguo, stays.
According to the Police, the victim supplied him cooked food between 2023 and 2024 to the tune of the amount in question. When she demanded for the money, he asked her to continue to supply the food with a promise to pay her.
However, when the victim was unable to bear it any longer, she reported the matter to the Police at Elere Division. The suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable having admitted that the complainant actually supplied the food but he had no money to pay her.
He was then charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, fraud and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
COUNT 1:- “That you, Mgbeodinna Onyekachi Julius ‘M’ sometime between year 2023 and year 2024 at No. 13, Odejobi Street, Orile Agege in the Lagos State Magisterial district, did conduct yourself and caused breach of peace by eating cooked food without paying from a sales woman one Priscilla Aguguo ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:-” That you, Mgbeodinna Onyekachi Julius ‘M’ on the same date time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did fraudulently trick one Priscilla Aguguo ‘F’ by cheating her in obtaining cooked foods, which you consumed and refused to pay and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 323(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:-” That you, Mgbeodinna Onyekachi Julius ‘M’ on the same date time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand One Hundred Naira (N554,100.00) property of Priscilla Aguguo ‘F’ 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 Odugbo Innocent, 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, Mrs. M. O. Popoola, granted the defendant bail with two 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 at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.