11th February, 2011
A developer and estate agent, Alhaji Ganiyu Adetayo, 38 residing on 8, Aromire Street, Lagos Island, South-West Nigeria, has been arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, for allegedly defrauding over 100 prospective tenants.
P.M.NEWS gathered that between 16 September, 2010 and 7 January, 2011, Adetayo collected a total sum of N13.5m from about 100 accommodation seekers on a mini-flat located on 5, Ogundare Street , Oke-Odo in Agbado- Oko-Odo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.
The developer, who operates under the name, Solid Rock Properties, was arraigned before the court on a 103-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, stealing and fraud.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Ganiyu Adetayo and others at large between 16 September, 2010 and 7 January, 2011, at various locations within the Lagos magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: obtaining money under false pretences and stealing a total sum of N13,538,000 from intending tenants for an unavailable apartment and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Ganiyu Adetayo and others at large at the same time, date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, with intent to defraud, did advertise for rent a mini-flat on 5, Ogundare Street , Oke-Odo, Ile-Epo Bus Stop, Lagos, and did print a receipt of Solid Rock Properties being in acknowledgement of payment of various sums of money from over 100 people under false representation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2003.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was not represented by any counsel when the case was mentioned.
Chief Magistrate P.A.Ojo, the presiding magistrate, admitted him on bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties. He ordered that the addresses of the sureties and evidence of livedlihood must be verified. One of the sureties, he added, must be a blood relation of the accused.
The prosecutor, Barrister A. O. Fadipe, from the Legal Department, State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, did not object to the bail, saying the bail would afford the accused opportunity to look for money to pay his victims.
The case has been adjourned till 4 April, 2011.
—Paul Sanusi and Abosede Agboola