14th November, 2012
A prominent Lagos-based businessman, Chief Sharafa Tijani, 54, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The operatives of the Inspector-General of Police, Monitoring Unit, Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, Force headquarters, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, alleged in charge suit number I/37A/2012 that the accused was arrested following a written complaint by Musibau Oluwayinka that the accused fraudulently obtained N500,000 from him on the pretence that he had a plot of land at Ilado Bayieku area of Ikorodu, Lagos, to sell to him, a claim he knew was false as the said land falls under Lagos state acquisition, which he knew.
He further stated that since the incident occurred at 2, Glover Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2010, the accused has refused to refund his money or give him another land.
The offence, the prosecutor, DSP Ezema Susan claimed, contravenes sections 409 and 312 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety who must show proof of three years tax payment to Lagos State government and must be resident within the court jurisdiction.
The matter has been adjourned till 8 October.
—Paul Iyoghoji