A 33- year -old, Yemi Emmanuel, was on Monday charged with taking delivery of planks valued at N758, 000 under
false pretences at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, a trader, who resides at Bisodun New Site, Ofada near Mowe in Ogun, is tried for obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem , the accused committed the offences on Feb. 3 at Saw Mill Plank Market, Olowora in Berger
area of Lagos.
Akeem said the accused collected 978 pieces of wood valued at N758,000 from the complainant, Mrs Olayemi Abolarin, on the pretext of paying the
money into her account thereafter.
“The accused told the complainant that a contract was awarded to him to roof a building and that he needed some planks.
“The accused promised to pay the money into her account as soon as the job was completed within two weeks,” he said.
Akeem said since then, the accused had been on the run, while his phone was switched off.
“The complainant got an information about the whereabouts of the accused and promptly informed the police, who later arrested him.”
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 312 stipulates a 15-year jail term for obtaining by false pretences.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Jadesola Adeyemi -Ajayi, in her ruling, granted the accused a bail of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adeyemi-Ajayi ordered the accused to deposit N100, 000 in the court’s Registry account as part of the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until April 18 for mention.
