Businessman faces court for alleged N1.2m fraud in Lagos

A 34-year-old businessman, Oluwatayo Bello, was on Tuesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged N1.2 million theft.

Bello, who resides in Ikeja, Lagos, is being tried on a charge of stealing.

CSP. Asuquo Effiong told the court that the accused collected N1.2 million from one Afolabi Abayomi, owner of a company, Harmony Real Plus Ltd., under the guise of supplying him some laptops.

He said that the accused was contracted to supply some laptops worth N1.2 million to the complainant but that he failed to do so.

“The accused collected the money from the complainant for the supply at the electronic store and converted same to his own personal use,” Effiong said.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for the offence of stealing.

The accused, however, plead not guilty to the charge.

In her ruling, Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere granted the accused bail in the sum of N400, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oghere said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, show two years evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and be gainfully employed.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 10 for further hearing.