Two brothers were on Wednesday docked in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding an accommodation seeker of N750,000.
The police charged Otomiyo, 32, and Mary Tega, 45, with conspiracy, theft and obtaining by false pretence.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in September 2020 at Beco estate, in Mangoro area of Lagos.
She said that the defendants rented their family house to the complainant, Mr Emmanuel Okafor, for N750,000 as rent for a year.
She said when the complainant attempted to move into the house, the defendants refused to allow him access.
She said that the defendants told Okafor that they were no longer interested in renting the apartment to him.
Olaluwoye further told the court that the defendants had since then, refused to refund the money the complainant paid or allow him access to the house.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 314(3), 287 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 is punishable by 15 years imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences while 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.
Chief Magistrate L.Y. Balogun admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one responsible suretie each, in like sum.
She ordered that each of the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.
Balogun adjourned the case until Nov. 8 for mention. (NAN)
