Female Rice Dealer Sent To Prison Over Alleged N4.1m Fraud

Paul Iyoghojie

A businesswoman and dealer in rice at Eko Akete area of Ajah, Lagos, Olufunmilayo Daramola, 41, has been arrested and arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly collecting 278 bags of rice valued N4,150,000 from a customer to sell and refund the sales proceeds back to him within four days, sold the rice and allegedly converted the proceeds to her use.

The accused, a resident of Ibeju- Lekki, according to the police was arrested on the order of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone 2 Command,
Onikan,Lagos, Adamu Ibrahim following a petition by Folorunsho Bashiru, the owner of the rice.

And after investigation, Daramola was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of felony to wit, fraudulently obtaining 278 bags of rice from Folorunsho Bashiru and stealing.

Police prosecutor, Haruna Ibrahiim informed the Court in charge No D/77/2017 that the accused committed the offence in August, 2017 at Eko Akete area of Ajah, Lagos.

Ibrahim told the Court that the complainant reported to the police that the accused approached him to supply her bags of rice to sell and make profit, with a promise to refund the proceeds to him within four days.

According to him, the complainant stated that based on the agreement, he supplied 278 bags of rice for the accused to sell and refund the proceeds as promised.

He explained that the complainant further said that he was shocked after the accused sold the bags of rice and betrayed the trust he had on her and failed to refund the proceeds from the rice sale to him till date.

Ibrahim said that the offences the accused committed were punishable under sections 314(a)(b) and 287 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State,2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime in the open court and Chief Magistrate B.A Sonuga granted her bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum.

Sonuga adjourned the case till 2 November, 2017 for mention and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Prison,Lagos till she is able to meet the bail conditions.