15th July, 2011
Operatives at the State CID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have arraigned an Agege-based estate agent Kolawole Ayinde, 32, before the Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on a 45-count charge for allegedly obtaining about N10 million from 22 prospective tenants on the pretence of providing them with accommodation, which he failed to do.
He was also said to have refused to refund the money.
The accused who operates under the name Alubarika Homes and lives at 15, Supo Gbabe Street, Meiran, Lagos State, according to the police, was arrested following a complaint by Pa Isaac Ademoye, the landlord of a building located at 5, Coker Street, Agege, that Kolawole used his building to defraud about 22 tenants.
During investigation, he allegedly confessed to collecting money from the victims.
“I collected between N410,000, N370,000, N290,000 and N240,000 respectively from about 22 prospective tenants and escaped,†he said.
The owner of the building, Pa Ademoye, said the accused approached him to allow him renovate one of the old man’s flats with his money and to lease it out for four years to recover his money.
“I agreed because I suspected no foul play. But I never knew he partitioned my flat into a mini-flat and rooms and started collecting money from different people.â€
After collecting their money, Kolawole ran away and the victims started disturbing the the landlord until he reported the matter to the police.
Kolawole was, therefore, arraigned on a 45-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence, offences the prosecutor, Inspector Eshiet, said are punishable under Section 516, 419, 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C17, vol. ii, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. C. Ogala, granted him bail in the sum of N1million with two surties.
The accused was ordered remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Apapa, Lagos, when he could not perfect his bail conditions.
—Paul Iyoghojie