Kerosene Dealer Remanded Over N9m Fraud

A kerosene dealer has been arrested by policemen at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria for defrauding three businessmen of N9 million.

The accused, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Bada, 36, was arraigned before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court on a seven-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

The police alleged in the charge sheet that the accused was arrested following a complaint by Wasiu Adebayo, Raheem Bolaji and Abegunrin Kayode that they gave her kerosene worth N9m for sale but she refused to remit the proceeds to them. Instead, she absconded.

The incident occurred at Ascon Oil, Apapa, Lagos.

Nemesis caught up with her after about five months when she was arrested at Akure town, in Ondo State and brought back to Lagos.

During interrogation, she allegedly admitted collecting three trucks of kerosene from the complainants and pleaded with the police to allow her refund the money instalmentally.

The police obliged her, but after paying N500,000, she disappeared again and relocated from Akure to Ibadan where she was later re-arrested and charged to court for stealing.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Sergeant Idowu, are punishable under Sections 409, 312(b) and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. H. O. Omisore, admitted her on bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties who must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

The magistrate also directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relation and the other must be a property owner within the court’s jurisdiction with C of O that must be verified at the Lagos State Government Land Bureau Office.

She adjourned the matter till 7 March, 2012 for mention.

The accused was moved to Kirikiri Prisons when she could not perfect her bail conditions.

—Paul Iyoghojie & Ayodeji Dedeigbo