An estate agent, Adesina Balogun, who allegedly defrauded two accommodation seekers of N500,000, was on Friday charged before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.
Balogun, 54, who resides at No. 24, Mustapha St., Mushin, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb.18 and Feb.24 at Anthony, Lagos.
He said the accused with another still at large obtained N500, 000 from two accommodation seekers on the pretext of renting out a two-bedroom apartment to each of them.
“The accused and his accomplice fraudulently collected the money from one Mr Remi Wayne and Mrs Adenike Oshunbade. The accused took Wayne to a house at No. 2a, Kunle Adebowale St., Anthony, to inspect the house and he introduced him to the purported landlord, who is still at large.
“Being satisfied with the facilities in the house, the complainant paid N250, 000 and was issued a receipt signed by the `landlord’,” Olatunde said.
Olatunde added that two days after, the accused also took Oshunbade to the same flat, introduced her to the landlord and also collected N250, 000 and issued her a receipt.
“When Wayne took a painter to the house he met the real landlord.’’
He said Balogun was later arrested in connection with a similar case at Palmgrove, Lagos.
The offences, Olatunde noted, contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that Section 285 provides a three-year imprisonment for stealing, while Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences.
The accused entered a plea of `not guilty’.
Ruling on Balogun’s bail application, the Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.
Fashola adjourned the case to April 24 for mention. NAN
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