2 Estate Agents Remanded For Defrauding 89 Accommodation Seekers of N55m

2 Estate Agents Remanded For Defrauding 89 Accommodation Seekers of N55m

Justice Mauren Onyentenu of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, ordered the remand of two estate agents, Mufutau Ishola and Alimot Adenike Balogun, who were arraigned before her, for allegedly defrauded over 89 accommodation seekers to the tune of N55 million, in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services, till the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

The two estate agents were arraigned before Justice Onyentenu by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi-Lagos, on 90 counts charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.

The prosecutor, Mr. Jaiyeola Oloruntoba, a Superintendent of Police (Supol) had told the court that the defendants committed the offences between May 2019 and June 2020.

He told the court that defendants and one Alhaja Mosurat Salawu, now at large, by false pretence, fraudulently obtained the said sum from the victims, under the pretence that they have different types of apartment at No. 6, Olasunu Street, by Golden Park Estate, Sangotedo Ajah, Lagos State, to let out.

Among those alleged defrauded by the defendants include: Amusat Sadiku; Eziafa Henry; Omotoyosi Olanrewaju;  Valentine Bahngong Inyang; Okafor Ifeoma Lilian; Omage Judith; Raphael Abilene; Ojo Yetunde Adedokun; Golden  Iruayenama; Gideon Onyebuchi Chilaka;  Chidima Onuoha; Courage Uko Simon and 76 others.

The offences committed by the defendants are contrary to sections 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. 
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the 90 counts charge and their lawyer, Mr. Jibril Jijil, told the court that he had filed their bail applications, while added that he needed time to file a further and better affidavits, in vie of the counter filed by the prosecution.

The prosecutor, Mr. Oloruntoba, while not opposed the defence counsel application.

Justice Onyentenu, while adjourned the matter till November 3, for hearing and determination of the defendants’ bail application, ordered that the two defendants be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NSC)

Count one of the charges against the defendants read: “that you Mufutau Ishola ‘M’, Alimot Adenike Balogun ‘F’ and one Alhaja Monsurat Salawu ‘F’ now at large between May 2019 and June 2020 at Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire with each other to commit felony to wit Obtaining Money by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. 
And count 90 reads; “that you Mufutau Ishola ‘M’, Alimot Adenike Balogun ‘F’ and one Alhaja  Monsurat Salawu ‘F’ now at large on or about 16th March, 2020 at Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain by false pretences the sum of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from one Gideon Onyebuchi Chilaka on the understanding that you will let an Apartment (House) at No. 6, Olasunu Street, by Golden Park Estate, Sangotedo Ajah, Lagos State to him when in actual fact the said apartment had already been rented to some other person(s), representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(3) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006. 

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