Court remands 79-year-old over alleged N9m fraud

AN Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Isabo on Wednesday remanded a 79-year-old man, Olatunji Komolafe, in prison custody over alleged N9 million fraud.

The accused, whose address was not disclosed, is facing a three-count charge of fraud, stealing and false pretext.

The prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale said that the accused committed the offences in February 2009 at the Ita Eko branch of Eco bank in Abeokuta.

Eigbejiale said that the accused posed as a rice dealer and obtained money under false pretences from one Alhaja Noyimotu Soyemi.

He submitted that the septuagenarian fraudulently obtained N9 million from Soyemi on the pretext of supplying her five trucks of Thailand Rice.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused neither supplied the rice nor returned the money.

He said that the accused issued a dishonoured Zenith bank cheque No. 41424301 for N9 million to refund the sum.

He noted that the offences contravened Sections 419, 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adelaja, ordered that he should be in prison custody until Jan. 19 when his bail application would be determined. (NAN)