A 63-year-old man, Solomon Oyeyinka, who allegedly defrauded four people of N5 million under the pretext of renting an apartment for them, was on Thursday brought before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Oyeyinka, a resident of the Shomolu neighbourhood of Lagos, is facing a nine-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretences.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Oriabure, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in October 2019 at the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos.
Oriabure said that the defendant, along with his accomplice, put up a two-bedroom flat at Maryland for rent and proceeded to rent the same flat out to four different people, defrauding them of a total of N5 million.
He said that N1.25 million was stolen from Susan Isu, N1.5 million from Lawal Babatunde, N1.1 million from Emeka Victor, and N1.25 million from Josephine Uda.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 287, 314 (1) and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Section 287 stipulates three years’ imprisonment for the offence of stealing, while 314 (1) was punishable by 15 years’ imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences.
Magistrate Mrs S. Salawu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
Salawu directed that both sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She later adjourned the case until Oct. 2 for mention.
