Man dragged to court over alleged N1.5 million fraud

Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo

Osun State Police Command on Wednesday dragged a 61- year- old man, Azeez Popoola, to Osogbo magistrate court for allegedly duping two land buyers to the tune of N1,588,000.

The land speculator who is facing a four-count charge of obtaining money by false, stealing, defrauding and converting the complainant’s money, pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against him.

Azeez was alleged to have duped one Abdulazeez Moshood with the pretence of selling four plot of land worth N1,280,000 million naira, knowing fully it’s false.

The defendant was also accused of fraudulently, obtaining the sum of N460,000 from one Adewale Tunde, with the pretence of securing him a plot of land.

The accused person was said to have committed this offence in March 2020 at about 10:30 am, at Oke Mokin Igigogoro Area Osogbo.

The police prosecutor, Adegoke Fagboyinbo, noted that the offence committed by the accused is contrary to and punishable under section 419 and  390(9) of the criminal code cap 34, Vol. 2.Laws of Osun state Nigeria 2002.

Defence counsel, Ibrahim K. Imran, urged the court to grant his client bail, promising that he would stand his trial.

In his ruling, magistrate Dr Olusegun Ayilara granted bail of N500,000 and two sureties that are house owners with tax clearance and verifiable addresses.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case till February 24, 2021.