By Felix Kuyinu
The Police have arraigned two suspects over a fraudulent land deal worth N47m.
The accused : Povesi Kehinde, 41, and Bodede Oluwatobi, 36, were arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos, and charged before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Francis Igbinosa, stated that the defendants, under false pretences, forged the signature of a legal practitioner identified as Olisah Aigbe to obtain the sum from one Olatunji Lawal – the petitioner.
Igbinosa mentioned at the court that the suspects collected N30,000,000 from Lawal, for purchase of six plots of land and an additional N17,000,000 for two plots.
The Prosecutor stated that the litigants failed to provide the lands as promised, converted the funds to personal use and absconded.
The complainant filed a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, who ordered his team to track down the suspects.
The defendants were apprehended at a hideout in Lagos.
The duo, who are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false Pretences, and forgery were accused of committing the offences between December 2021 and May 2023 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, as submitted by Igbinosa.
The offences, he said, contravene Sections 411, 314, 287, and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
After the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges, the court granted them bail with two sureties in like sum and ordered their remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned the case till November 4.
