A 41-year-old oil dealer, John Ajewole, was on Friday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly obtaining diesel worth N1.8 million under false pretences.
The defendant, whose residential address was not given, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on fraud and issuance of dud cheque.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the police.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Godspower Ehizoba, told the court that the defendant committed the offences from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 30, 2015, at No.10, Reeve Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ehizoba said that the defendant fraudulently obtained diesel worth N1.8 million from Pulka Oil and Gas Ltd. for supply to the Industrial General Insurance Company and other companies.
He said that the defendant obtained the diesel from the complainant under guise that he would remit money to the complainant’s account after selling the product.
“When the defendant could not pay the money, he issued two Heritage Bank cheques and three Stanbic IBTC Bank cheques bearing the name of Awameta Oil company for N1.5 million, but all the cheques were dishonoured due to insufficient fund,” Ehizoba said.
According the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 287, 314 (1) and 321 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. F. Onamusi, granted him bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
She said that one of the sureties must be his blood relation and possess evidence of tax payment.
She adjourned the case until June 26 for mention.
