A 46-year-old businessman, Emmanuel Ibiogbe, who allegedly defrauded a man of N400,000, on Tuesday in Lagos appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Ibiogbe, who reside at Egbeda area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, ASP Bisi Ogunleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in February 2020 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos.
Ogunleye said that the defendant borrowed the money from the complainant, Mr Idemudia Osajaro, with the pretext that he would pay him back.
“The defendant collected the money from the complainant promising to pay back in few weeks time but failed to do so.
“Efforts made by the complainant to collect his money proved unsuccessful as the defendant refused to pick up his calls.
“After a year of collecting the money, the complainant reported the case and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecuctor said.
Ogunleye 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 287 stipulates a three years jail term for stealing, while Section 314 attracts 15 years impresonment for obtaining money under false pretences.
The Magistrate, Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Kubeinje said that the sureties should be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the case until March 24 for mention. (NAN)
