Man Remanded Over N10m Fraud

The police at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, have arraigned a suspected land speculator, Chief Victor Obijiofor, 51, before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.

The accused, according to the police, was arrested following a complaint by one Chinedu Chikelue that the accused between June and September 2009 at Marwa Road, Ijegun, Satellite Town, Lagos, represented himself as a land agent and allegedly collected N10 million from him in respect of a land, a claim he knew was false and all efforts to retrieve his money proved abortive.

After investigation, the accused was charged to court for stealing. The offences, according to Inspector Marcus Okon, are punishable under Section 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17 (1) vol. ii, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Count two reads: “That you, Chief Victor Obijiofor, on the same date, time and place at the aforesaid magisterial district did steal the sum of N10 million, property of Mr. Chinedu Chikelue on the pretence of selling a land to him, but failed to do so.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Abegunde Davies, granted him bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in like sum who must own a limited liability company with landed property in Lagos State.

She adjourned the matter till 18 November, 2011.

Following the accused person’s inability to fulfil his bail conditions, he was ordered remanded in Ikoyi Prison.

 —Paul Iyoghojie