Conman Held Over N8m Fraud

A suspected fraudster, Clement Esene, 39, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, on a three-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence.

The police at the Zone 2 Command, Lagos, stated that  they got  a written complaint from Chief Martins Onovo that the accused in March, 2011 at Lekki Phase1 Estate, Eti Osa, Lagos, collected N8 million from him with a promise to help him invest same in an engineering services firm, GBC.

He added that the accused failed to utilise the money for the purpose he collected it and has also refused to refund the money to him till date.

He stated further that the accused issued him an Intercontinental Bank post-dated cheque No.13784713 dated 31 December, 2011 with account No. 00000063 for the sum of N8 million in the name of Chief Martins Onovo as payment for the money he fraudulently collected from him and when he  presented the cheque for payment, it was dishonoured due to lack of funds in the accoun.

The offences the prosecutor S. Molo said contravene Sections 312, 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011 and Section 1(a) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheque Offences Act, Cap 102, law of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him and Magistrate Mr. A. A. Adefulire granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum who must produce evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government.

He directed that the sureties must show evidence of N250,000 in their bank accounts.

He adjourned the matter till 17 December.

The defendant was sent to Ikoyi Prison when he could not meet his bail conditions.

—Paul Iyoghojie