An Ebute Metta Magistrate Court, Lagos presided over by Magistrate Bola Folarin-Williams has ordered the remand of a 61year-old man, Olasupo Alimi, who was charged before her over alleged Fraud and stealing of a total of N10.8 million fraudulenty obtained from two prospective land buyers.
Magistrate Folarin-Williams, remanded the 61 years old, Olasupo, after he pleaded not guilty to the four counts charge of obtaining by false pretences and stealing leveled against him by the men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID (Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
Arraigning the defendant in charge number C/27/2021, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a Legal Officer at Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court that the defendant fraudulenty obtained the sum of N7.3 million and N3.5 million from the duo of Sola Elegbede and Adeola Fatai, with false pretences under the guise of selling a plot of land to each of them .
The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant, a resident of 6, Supo Alimi Street, Okun Ajah, Lagos, after fraudulenty obtained the said sums from the victims, refused to give them the land rather he stole the money.
He also told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened Sections 314 (3) and 287 (5)of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015 and punishable under the same Law.
However, Olasupo denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, asked the court for a trial date, while he also urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the determination of the charges against the defendant.
But the defendant’s counsel asked the court to admit his client bail in the most liberal terms, adding that the charges against him are bailable.
Magistrate Folarin-Williams acceded to the position of defendant’s counsel, and admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties, which one must be blood relation with the defendant and the other in managerial capacity in a reputable organization.
In addition to the bail sum, the defendant was ordered to deposited his international passport with the Court’s Chief Registrar, while the sureties must furnish the court with evidence of three tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the prosecutor.
Magistrate Folarin-Williams however ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of NCoS till the perfection of bail terms and consequently adjourned the matter till November 24, for mention.
