Businessman docked over alleged N3.3m fraud

Businessman docked over alleged N3.3m fraud

Fraud
By Deborah Akpede
Ikeja, July 23, 2019 (NAN) A businessman, Gabriel Elota, on Tuesday appeared  before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining N3.3 million from three men on the pretext of processing travelling documents for them.

Elota, 36, who resides at Oshodi, Lagos,  was charged with obtaining money under false pretences and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The defendant committed the offences in January at Oshodi, according to the Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde.

Ayorinde said that the defendant obtained the sum  from Messrs Chinedu Okafor, Onyebuchi Okoro and Chima Emmanuel in the guise of processing for them, travelling documents to South Korea.

“After the defendant collected the money from the complainants, he was no where to be found.

“All efforts made by the complainants to  retrieve their money proved unsuccessful as the defendant refused to pick up their calls.

“He was later arrested and handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 prescribes three years’ jail term for stealing, while Section 314 attracts 15 years’ imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences.

The Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, released the defendant on bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government

She adjourned the case until Sept 9 for substantive hearing. (NAN)

DOA/EOB/IGO
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Edited by Edith Bolokor/Ijeoma Popoola