A trader, Ogonna Ezeafulukwe, was yesterday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly collecting goods worth N368,000 under false pretences.
32-year-old Ezeafulukwe, who resides at the Maza Maza area of Lagos, is standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on stealing, false presentation, assault, conspiracy and threat to life at an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 18, 2012 at Block 25, Shop 29, Alaba International Market, Ojo.
According to him, the accused collected electrical materials valued at N368,000 from a businessman, Mr Uchenna Nwamutalu, under the pretext of supplying it to a company in Abuja.
“The accused promised to pay back N368,000, being the total value of the items after he would have sold them to his supplier. But he failed to do so,” Ojaokomo said.
He said that the accused on November 24, at the same market, threatened to kill Nwamutalu.
“The accused hired some hoodlums to beat up the businessman with fist blows and wounded him, after refusing to pay his money,” the prosecutor said.
He said the hoodlums escaped from the scene after beating their victim to a pulp.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when his plea was sought by the court.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
She ordered that the surety must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, as part of the bail conditions.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till Jan. 29.
Section 311 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for obtaining goods under false pretences, while Section 409 stipulates two years for conspiracy. [Vanguard]
32-year-old Ezeafulukwe, who resides at the Maza Maza area of Lagos, is standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on stealing, false presentation, assault, conspiracy and threat to life at an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 18, 2012 at Block 25, Shop 29, Alaba International Market, Ojo.
According to him, the accused collected electrical materials valued at N368,000 from a businessman, Mr Uchenna Nwamutalu, under the pretext of supplying it to a company in Abuja.
“The accused promised to pay back N368,000, being the total value of the items after he would have sold them to his supplier. But he failed to do so,” Ojaokomo said.
He said that the accused on November 24, at the same market, threatened to kill Nwamutalu.
“The accused hired some hoodlums to beat up the businessman with fist blows and wounded him, after refusing to pay his money,” the prosecutor said.
He said the hoodlums escaped from the scene after beating their victim to a pulp.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when his plea was sought by the court.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
She ordered that the surety must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, as part of the bail conditions.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till Jan. 29.
Section 311 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for obtaining goods under false pretences, while Section 409 stipulates two years for conspiracy. [Vanguard]
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