ICPC arraigns businessman for alleged N140,000 fraud

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday arraigned a businessman, Aderintola Adeolu, at an Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly defrauding a woman of N140,000.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the businessman is facing a two-count charge bothering on obtaining under false pretence.

Adeolu, who does not speak the English language, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him in the Yoruba language.

Mrs Yvonne William-Mbata, the ICPC prosecutor, said Adeolu committed the offences in March 2017 at Ikeja, Lagos.

“On March 2, 2017, the defendant with the intent to defraud, received N120,000 from Mrs Sonia Laburta through her Union Bank account number 0054023496.

“The very next day on March 3, 2017, Adeolu received N20,000 from Sonia which was paid into the complainant’s Union Bank Account by her husband Mr Jonathan Laburta.

“The money the defendant received from the complainant was for the supply of 30 bags of poultry feeds, 15 crates of eggs, 10 points of lay birds and a carton of broilers,” she said.

After Adeolu’s plea was taken, his lawyer Mr A. O. Madabike asked the court to grant the businessman bail in liberal terms.

The ICPC prosecutor did not oppose the application.

Justice Sherifat Solebo granted Adeolu bail in the sum of N100,000, with one surety in like sum.

Solebo said the surety must be resident in Lagos and provide proof of tax payment for the last two years.

She adjourned the case until May 21 for the continuation of trial.