A 29-year old man, Israel Onwe, was on Thursday, arraigned before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged N18.6 million fraud
Onwe, who resides at No 9, Idi-Iroko Street, off Lagos Road, Ogolonto, Ikorodu, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Insp Magaji Haruna, told the court that Onwe committed the offences on May 19 at Shop 148, Ori-Iyanrin Market, Ebute-Ero, Lagos.
Haruna said that the defendant collected goods valued N18.6 million from three different vendors with a promise to pay in installments.
“The vendors gave the goods to the defendant on the grounds that he is a regular customer, who has not defaulted in the past.
“He refused to pay the money. All efforts by the vendors to get their money or goods back proved abortive,” he said.
Haruna said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 of the law prescribes 15 years imprisonment for obtaining under false pretences while 287 stipulates three years for stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. Y. Adefope, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
Adefope ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant.
She adjourned the case until July 25 for trial.