Estate agent in court for alleged N960,000 fraud

A 32-year-old estate agent, Michael Osilama, who allegedly defrauded a customer, Miss Helen Okereafor, of N960,000, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday.

Osilama, who resides at Gowon Estate, Egbeda near Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The prosecutor, Insp. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 13 at Oba Elegusi Estate, Ajah in Lagos State.

Ihiehie said the accused collected N960, 000 from the complainant, Okereafor, as rent charges for a two-bedroom apartment, but failed to remit it to the landlady.

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“The complainant paid the sum of N960,000  covering: caution fee, house rent, agency and agreement fees to the accused on April 13 who claimed to be the agent managing the property.

“She moved into the apartment on April 18 but the landlady ordered her to move out because she had not received any money from the agent.

“Since then, the accused has refused to pick phone calls from the complainant.

“Also, all efforts made by the complainant to locate the accused failed until she sighted him at Iyana Ipaja and raised an alarm,” he said.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders.

The magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until Jan 23, 2019.