Clearing agent docked for alleged N12.6m fraud

A 35-year-old clearing agent, Oliseh Egbochite, was on Wednesday docked in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a man of N12.6million.

The police charged Egbochite, whose residential address was not provided, with obtaining by false pretences and theft.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Rita Momah, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in November 2021, at Apapa area of Lagos.

Momah said the complainant, Mr. Okechukwu Okueme, gave the defendant N12.6 million to clear his container of goods from the Apapa port.

She said that the defendant squandered the money and could not clear the container, leaving it to attract demurrage at the port.

The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Reports state that Section 314 is punishable by 15 years imprisonment for obtaining by false pretences while 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.

Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5million with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that both sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Adedayo adjourned the case until May 9 for mention.