2 Estate Agents Dupe 40 Tenants

Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria, have arraigned two estate agents before an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Oyingbo, Lagos, on a 120-count charge, for defrauding over 40 accommodation seekers.

The estate agents, Mr. Ademola Balogun, 38 and Garba Akeem, 43, were alleged to have used a building at 10, Adeniyi Street, Olodi-Apapa, to defraud the accommodation seekers between 1 February and 1 June, 2011.

The matter was reported to the police when the victims discovered that other persons people had moved into the apartment they paid for, and that those that paid were more than the available rooms.

The accused were arraigned on a 120-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing-related offences.

The prosecutor, Barrister Friday Igbinosa, from the State CID, Panti, Yaba, said the offences are punishable Sections 516, 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C. 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Count one of the charges read: “That you, Ademola Balogun and Garba Akeem, between 1 February, 2011 and 1 June, 2011, at 10, Adeniyi Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspire to commit felony, to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”

Count 120 reads: “That you, Ademola Balogun and Garba Akeem on the same day, time and place did steal the sum of N100,000, property of one Obiduma Okafor, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”

The estate agents pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mr. Philip A. Ojo, a Chief Magistrate, admitted them on bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each.

The sureties, he ordered must show evidence of payment of tax to the Lagos State government; show means of livelihood and must be residing within the magisterial district. One of the sureties, the magistrate added must be a blood relation to the defendants.

The matter has been adjourned till 18 October, 2011 for trial.

The estate agents were taken to Ikoyi Prisons when they could not meet the conditions attached to their bail.

—Paul Sanusi