By Felix Kuyinu
A businessman, Sodiq Adamu, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons for allegely defrauding a complainant the sum of N129,900,000 under false pretence.
Adamu, 44, was apprehended by operatives at Lagos State Police Command, Zone 2, after a complain was made by the fraud victim, Abdulhazeez Imam.
The Police submitted at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Ebute-Metta Lagos, where the suspect was put on trial, that the sum was obtained to be used in purchasing $150,000 for the petitioner.
The Prosecutor, ASP Francis Igbinosa, opened that the defendant converted the money to his use and fled.
Igbinosa further stated that the suer, noting of the disappearance of the suspect, petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Durosimi Olatoye, who directed his operatives to hunt down the fleeing accused.
The Police team tracked the defendant to a hideout in Lagos after months of intelligence gathering and arrested him.
The defendant was charged to court on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Igbinosa told the Court in the charge marked D/15/2024 that the defendant committed the offence on 31 July 2023 at Victoria Island, Lagos. He stated that the offences were punishable under sections 314, 287 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Oluwatosin Erinle, granted him N5m bail with two sureties in like sum
Magistrate Erinle adjourned the case till 26 June 2024 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfects the bail conditions.
