By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Senior Correspondent
A 56-year-old dealer in petroleum products, Adetoye Adeoye Akindele, was docked by the police before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Igbosere Lagos over alleged offences bordering on conspiracy and obtaining the sum of N9.2 million from one Mr Noel Tiemo under false pretence.
According to the police in charge number C/17/18, Akindele who allegedly committed the offence sometime in August 2016, at 13, Compassionate street, Idowu Egba, area of Lagos, was said to have fraudulently obtained the said sum from his victim Tiemo, under the pretence that he would be supplying him (victim) petroleum products.
During arraignment of the accused before the court, it was stated that the he and others still at large, with intent to defraud, sometime in August, 2016, approached one Noel Tiemo, and obtained the sum of N9.2 million from him, with a promise to supply him petroleum products.
It was further stated that the accused and his cohorts, after collecting the money, failed and refused to supply the product as promised.
According to the prosecutor Morufu Animashaun, he told the court that the offences allegedly committed by the accused are contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 314 (3), and 285(5) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
However, after listening to the charge which was read aloud to him, Akindele pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Consequent upon the plea of the accused, his lawyer Mustapha Daisi, while urging the court to admit his client to bail, stressed that the accused will always be present in court for his trial, adding that his client will not interfere with witness in the matter.
While opposing the bail application, the prosecutor told the court that it took police several months before the accused could be apprehended, arguing that if granted bail, it may cause difficulty for the police to arrest other members of the syndicate.
Notwithstanding the arguement of the prosecution, the presiding magistrate Mrs Abimbola Komolafe admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in llike sum.
Komolafe also ordered that the sureties must be residing within Lagos state, and must also show to court evidence of three years tax paid to the Lagos state government.
While adjourning the matter till March 20, for trial, she ordered that the accused be remanded in prisons custody, pending the perfection of his bail terms.
