By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
An Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a 47-year old Tokunbo Gbenga Daramola over alleged N27.5 million fraud preferred against him by the Police
The Magistrate Court presided over by Mrs. A. A. Adetunji, ordered the remand of the defendant in the Nigerian Correctional facility after he pleaded not guilty to one count charge of obtaining a sum of N27.5 million by false pretence.
The prosecutor, Ben Ekundayo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), while arraigning the defendant, told the court that he committed the said financial fraud sometimes in July, 2023, at 10, Ladipo Kuku Street, off Allen Avenue, Lagos.
According to the charge before the court, the defendant defrauded and caused a floss to a firm, Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited of the said sum, by issuing an old Polaris Bank Plc, postdated cheque which has been phased out by Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) as security to obtain the sum of N27.5 million.
The prosecutor, ASP Ekundayo told the court that the infraction committed by the defendant, contravened Section 322(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,and punishable under the same law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, urged the court to remand the defendant in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.
But the defendant through his counsel, urged the court to grant him bail in the most liberal terms, on the ground that the charge against him is a bailable offence.
Ruling on the submissions of the parties, Magistrate Adetunji, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate also ordered that each of the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction, with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government, and must be gainfully employed.
The magistrate, while adjourning the matter to May 8, for mention, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody till when the bail terms are met.
The Charge against the defendant reads: “That you Tokunbo Gbenga Daramola ‘m’ on or about July, 2023 at No. 10 Ladipo Kuku Street, off Allen Avenue Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud and cause a floss to Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited represented by one Olasunkanmi Oludare Ayeni ‘m’ did Issue an old Polaris Bank Pic, postdated cheque which has been phased out by Central Bank of Nigeria as security to obtain the sum of N27, 500, 000. 00 (Twenty Seven Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only by false pretence from Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 322(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.“