MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 64-year old man, Adelugba Wole, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Alabi Oscar ljegba, who wanted to rent an apartment as he collected N.9m but it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Wole, has been arrested and charged for the alleged fraud.
The incident happened on 2nd October, 2024, at 40 Sanni Balogun Street, Abule-Egba, Lagos, where the complainant was shown a two-bedroom apartment and he wanted to rent it.
However, after the complainant paid him the money, he bolted away, went into hiding and ended up not renting out the apartment to the complainant as they had agreed.
The matter was reported to the Police at Oke-Oba Division. The operatives trailed, eventually arrested Mr. Wole and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
While being interrogated, he admitted to have collected the money but have used it to solve his personal problem and as such had no money to refund the complainant.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Adelugba Wole ‘M’ and others now at large on the 2nd of October, 2024, at about 10:00Hrs at No, 40 Sanni Balogun Street, Abule-Egba, Lagos State, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretences and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Adelugba Wole ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by taking one Alabi Oscar ljegba ‘M’ to House No, 170 Olaniyi Street, New Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, Lagos State to show him unvacant two-bedroom flat and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 174 of criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Adelugba Wole ‘M’ and others now at large on the same dates, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of N900,000 (Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) through Zenith Bank PLC cheque from one Alabi Oscar ljegbe ‘M’ and withdrew the money for your own personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 314 of criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Adelugba Wole ‘M’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently convert all total amount of of N900,000 (Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) meant for house rent, property of Alabi Oscar Ijegba ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 280 (1)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, 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.Tanimola, granted him 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 pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.