Nigeria Police Force on Thursday brought a 30-year-old man, Sodiq Adedokun, before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged N1.7m fraud.
Adedokun, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Clément Okuoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between January and May at Seme Border, in Badagry area of Lagos.
Okuoimose said the defendant obtained the sum of N1.7m from the complainant, one Khadijat Sallah, under the pretext of helping her to buy cartons of frozen turkey.
The prosecutor noted that the defendant failed to fulfil this promise and converted the money to his personal use.
Okuoimose stated that Adedokun had been avoiding the complainant since January, until he was arrested few days ago by the police.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015 (Revised).
Section 287 of the law stipulates three years’ jail term for stealing.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Fadahunsi Adefioye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Adefioye ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.
He adjourned the case until June 21 for mention.