31st August, 2024
By Paul Iyoghojie
A 47-year-old businessman, Nkeweumem Idongesit, has been arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Command, Lagos, and charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obtaining N60 million from a customer, Chinedu Onajiaka, under false pretence.
According to police reports, the incident occurred when the defendant allegedly approached Onajiaka, requesting a loan of N60 million to execute a contract, with the promise to repay the amount with interest within an agreed timeframe.
Trusting the defendant, Onajiaka provided the funds.
However, instead of fulfilling his promise to repay the money, the defendant allegedly issued six First Bank of Nigeria cheques totaling N60 million to Onajiaka as payment.
When Onajiaka presented the cheques at the bank, they were dishonored due to insufficient funds in the defendant’s accounts.
Following this development, Onajiaka filed a petition with the Zone 2 Police Command, leading to Idongesit’s arrest.
The defendant was subsequently charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, sitting at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on Lagos Island, on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion.
The police prosecuting counsel, ASP Francis Igbinosa, informed the court in case marked A/31/2024 that the defendant committed the offence in April 2023 in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Igbinosa stated that Idongesit deceived the complainant into providing the N60 million, under the pretence of using the money for a contract, but instead converted the funds for his personal use and issued fraudulent cheques as repayment.
The charges against the defendant are punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Idongesit pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi granted him bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The case has been adjourned to November 22, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
Until his bail conditions are met, Idongesit is to be remanded at the Ikoyi correctional facility.
