2 docked over alleged car theft, N114,000 fraud

Two men were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining N114,000 under false pretences and stealing a Toyota Camry car valued at N2.5 million.

The defendants, Onyekachukwu Okoli, 43, and Paul Chukwuji, 36, who claimed to be pastors, reside at Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.

The duo is facing a three-count charge of fraud, conspiracy and stealing.

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The prosecutor, ASP Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the defendants, between Oct. 12, and Oct. 17, 2017, at 11.30p.m. at No. 18, Abimbola Soetan St., Ikotun, Lagos, conspired with others still at large, to fraudulently obtained N114,000 from the complainant, Mr Awele Ogordiunor.

“The defendants, who claimed to be pastors, told the complainant that God ordered them to collect N114,000 from the complainant for a spiritual purpose, for his well-being, a representation they knew to be false.

“The duo also took the complainant’s Toyota Camry car with registration number EPE-943 EC valued at N2.5 million.

“All efforts to recover the car from the defendants proved abortive and the matter was reported to the police at Ikotun Police Division for investigation,” Nwangwu said.

The offences contravened Sections 287 (3), (10), 314 (B) and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500, 000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned until June 6, for a mention.