Two estate agents, Lukman Akande and Justice Odion, were arraigned before a Badagry Chief Magistrates' Court on Monday, facing charges of fraud and breach of the peace. The defendants, aged 43 and 34 respectively, are accused of defrauding one Mr Yomi Obafusu of N1.5 million.
According to the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun, the defendants committed the offences on July 26 at Power Line Atunshe Bus Stop, Era Road, Ijanikin area, Lagos. Adeosun stated that the defendants fraudulently obtained the sum from Obafusu under the guise of hiring an unused viewing centre, but failed to remit the money to the property owner.
"The defendants' actions were likely to cause a breach of the peace, as they refused to remit the proceeds to the owner," Adeosun said. The offences allegedly contravene Sections 168 and 315 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. One of the sureties must be a community leader with two years' evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The case was adjourned until September 10 for mention.