The operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, has arraigned an alleged land speculator, Lawal Ige, before Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) High Court o Lagos, over alleged fraud and stealing of N40 million.
The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning the defendant, told the court that he committed the offences sometimes in July, 2024, at Emmanuel Road, Igando, Lagos.
Barrister Animashaun told the court that the defendant, committed the offences by fraudulently received the sum of N40 million from Apostle O. K. Peters, under the pretence of having two plots of land at Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos available for sale.
He told the court that upon receiving the money, the defendant disappeared into thin air, and failed either give out the land nor refund the money.
Based on the above infractions, the prosecutor informed the court the alleged illegal acts of the defendant, contravened sections Section 314 and 280 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015. And punishable under section 287 of the same law.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences when the charges were read to him.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in the NCos’ facility pending trial. While equally asked the court for a trial date.
However, the defendant’s lawyer, Olatunbosun Betiku, asked the court for a short date, so that the defendant’s bail application can be filed and argued.
Based on the request of the counsel, Justice Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the kirikiri centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), while adjourned the matter to November 18, for hearing of the bail application and trial.
Charges against the defendant read: “that you Lawal Ige ‘M’ sometime in July, 2024 at Emmanuel Road, Igando, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, by false pretence and with intent to defraud received the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) from one APOSTLE O. K. PETERS on the pretence that you have two plots of land at Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos available for sale which you knew was false.
“That you, Lawal Ige ‘M’ sometime in July, 2024 at Emmanuel Road, Igando, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, dishonestly collected the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (forty million naira) property of one Apostle O. K. Peters on the pretence that you have two plots of land at Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos.”
