An Ebute-Metta chief magistrates’ court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a 61-year-old man, Olasupo Alimi, who was charged with fraud and stealing of N10.8 million from two prospective land buyers.
Magistrate Folarin-Williams ordered the remand of the accused person after he pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges preferred against him by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department, ForceCID, (Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
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Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer at Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court that the defendant obtained the sum of N7.3 million and N3.5 million respectively from Sola Elegbede and Adeola Fatai, with false pretence of selling plots of land to them.
Animashaun also told the court that the defendant, a resident of 6, Supo Alimi Street, Okun Ajah, Lagos, after obtaining the said sums from the victims, refused to give them the plots of land.
He also told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened Sections 314 (3) and 287 (5) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015 and punishable under the same Law.
Alimi denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the determination of the charges against him.
But the defendant’s counsel asked the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms, adding that the charges against him are bailable ones.
The magistrate, therefore, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties, one of which must be a relation of the defendant and the other a worker at a managerial level.
The magistrate also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the fulfillment of the bail terms, while he adjourned the case until November 24 for mention.
From Bolaji Robert, Lagos
