Man, 50, remanded over N25 million building permit fraud

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, remanded a 50-year-old man, Gboyega Rabiu, in prison for allegedly collecting the sum of N25 million from a hotel owner, Lanre Badmus, under false pretence.

Gboyega was arraigned before the court for allegedly collecting the said sum under the pretence that he was going to help the victim to obtain state government building permit for his proposed hotel in the Ikorodu area of the state.

 The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and falsely claiming to be a staff member of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), a claim which was later found to be false.

The police prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the accused bolted away after collecting the said sum.

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The prosecutor alleged that the accused had promised to help the victim obtain an approval from the state government and official permit.

However, 16 months after the N25 million payment was made to him, the accused became unreachable and failed to obtain the necessary authorisations as he promised.

“The accused told the victim that he works with LASPPPA and that he would help him get building approval and permit for his hotel. After all efforts made to get his money back from the accused failed, the victim then decided to report the matter to the police.

“The accused was arrested on August 1, 2023. The offence contravened sections 411 and 314 of the Lagos State, 2015 Criminal Law and are therefore, punishable by law.

The charge read: “That on August 1, 2023, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, you, Adegboyega Rabiu and others now at large did commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.

“That on August 1, 2023, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, you, Adegboyega Rabiu and others who are currently at large, stole the sum of N25 million under the false pretence of obtaining a building permit and approval for one Lanre Ayedun. You did this knowing that the representation you made was false, and as a result, you committed an offence that is punishable under Section 314 of the Lagos State Nigeria 2015 Criminal Law.”

The accused however pleaded not guilty.