Estate agent faces N3.4m land scam charge

An Estate agent, Adebayo Oredope, on Wednesday appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N3.4 million under false pretence.

Oredope, 55, whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on fraud, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

The prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in 2018, at Block 55, Flat 3, Low Cost Estate, Ijaye, Lagos.

Aigbokhan said the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N3.4 million from the complainant, Mr Olayinka Agbejule, by presenting himself as an estate agent and promised to sell five acres and two plots of land in Lagos to him.

He said that the defendant did not sell the land to the complainant as promised, but converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor said that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace.

According to him, the offences contravene sections 168(d), 287, 314, 323 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the police.

The Magistrate, Miss K.A. Ariyo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Ariyo ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until August 29 for mention.