A 60-year-old businessman, Batholomeu Ndi, charged with obtaining N100,000 from a man under the pretext of securing him a self-contained apartment was on Friday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendant, who resides at Iju, Lagos, was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretenses and stealing.
Ndi, however, denied committing the offences and was admitted to a bail of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.
Kubeinje said the surety should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The prosecutor, Asp. Bisi Ogunleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb.10 at Iju- Ishaga, Lagos.
He said the defendant obtained the money from Mr Obinni Nwanocheni to secure him the apartment, a representation he knew to be false.
“After the defendant collected the money, he was nowhere to be found.
“Efforts made by the complainant to retrieve his money proved unsuccessful.
“The defendant was later apprehended and taken to the station,” Ogunleye told the court.
The offences, Ogunleye said, violated sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 287 stipulates three years’ imprisonment for stealing, while section 314 prescribes 15 years for obtaining money under false pretenses.
The magistrate adjourned the case until March 23 for mention. (NAN)
