A 54-year old man, Jamiu Abatan, has been arrested and charged for allegedly swindling a man to the tune of N15m by selling a landed property, which he had given the documents as collateral to another person in Ijedodo community, Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at No. 4 Otolorin Street, Ijedodo area of Lagos. where the victim, Ogunmola Emmanuel lost the money under false pretence.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the victim, Emmanuel and told him that he had a plot of land with three bedrooms and three shops, which he wanted to sell in Ijedodo for the amount in question.
They went to the place and after inspection, Emmanuel paid the money through the suspect’s bank account.
However, trouble started after he paid the money and requested that he should be given the documents of the property. it was then the suspect informed the buyer that he used the documents as collateral to borrow money and he cannot retrieve the documents.
The matter was reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division. The suspect was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, he admitted that he actually gave out the documents as collateral and cannot retrieve it.
He was asked to refund the money but he claimed that he had no money to refund as he has used the money to solve pressing issues that made him to sell the land using the documents as collateral.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, fraud and stealing.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, 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, K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned 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.