A 35-year-old businessman, Daniel Iyam, charged with obtaining N800,000 from a woman under the pretence of helping her to get accommodation on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The defendant, who resides at Lekki, Lagos, was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs O.A Akokhia, on charges of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
Iyam, however, denied committing the offences and was admitted to a bail of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Akokhia said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government, (LASG).
The prosecutor, Insp Adegoke Philip, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 26, at Lekki, Lagos.
Philip submitted that the defendant collected the money from Mrs Nneoma Uzoma, with the pretext of helping her to get a three-bedroom apartment, knowing same to be false.
“After the defendant obtained the money from the complainant, he was nowhere to be found.
“The complainant went to his house but was told that he had just relocated.
“Efforts made to retrieve her money proved unsuccessful as the defendant refused to pick up her calls’’.
The prosecutor said that the defendant was tracked through his phone and was arrested.
According to the prosecutor, the offences violate Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that obtaining money under false pretences attracts 15 years for offenders.
The magistrate fixed further hearing for January 16.
(NAN)
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