25th April, 2018
Paul Iyoghojie
A Lagos-based businessman has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N141,640,000 from his business partner under false pretence.
The accused, Chekwube Okafor, 32 allegedly obtained the money from his partner, Ifeanyi Okolie.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone 2, Command, Lagos Island, Lagos, Ibrahim Adamu ordered the arrest of the accused following a complaint by Okolie and charged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Police counsel, S.Molo informed the court in charge No B/31/2018 that the accused committed the alleged offence between October 2016 and February, 2017 at Alaba, Lagos.
Molo told the court that the accused tricked the complainant and collected the sum of N141,640,000 from him on pretext to use the money to export 44 20ft container of wood to China with a promise to pay back.
Molo said that the complainant trusted the accused and lent him the money to export the wood, but that the accused converted the money to his use and failed to pay back the money till date.
He said the offences the accused committed were punishable under sections 411, 314 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum.
Botoku adjourned the matter till 15 May, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept in prison custody till he fulfilled the bail conditions.