Court Remands Man For Allegedly Defrauding Firm Of N27.5m
A 47 year old man, Tokunbo Gbenga Daramola, was today, remanded in Correctional Services facility, by an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, over alleged N47.5 million fraud
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. A. Adetunji, ordered the remand of the defendant, after he pleaded not guilty to on count charge of obtaining the said sum by false pretence, made against him by the police.
The prosecutor, Ben Ekundayo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), while arraigning defendant, told the court that he committed the financial fraud sometimes in July, 2023, at 10, Ladipo Kuku Street, off Allen Avenue, Lagos.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant defrauded and caused a floss to a firm, Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited of the said sum, by issuing an old Polaris Bank Plc, postdated cheque which has been phased out by Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) as security to obtain the sum of N27.5 million.
The prosecutor, ASP Ekundayo told the court that the infraction committed by the defendant, contravened Section 322(1) of the Criminal Law Of Lagos State, 2015,and punish under the same law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, urged the court to remand him in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.
But the defendant through his lawyer, urged the court to grant him bail in the most liberal terms, on the ground that the charge against him is a bailable one.
Ruling on the submissions of the parties, Magistrate Adetunji, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate also ordered that each of the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction, with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government, and must be gainfully employed.
The magistrate, while adjourning the matter to May 8, for mention, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody till when the bail terms are met.
Charge Against The Defendant Read: “That you Tokunbo Gbenga Daramola ‘m’ on or about July, 2023 at No. 10 Ladipo Kuku Street, off Allen Avenue Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud and cause a floss to Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited represented by one Olasunkanmi Oludare Ayeni ‘m’ did Issue an old Polaris Bank Pic, Postdated cheque which has been phased out by Central Bank Of Nigeria as security to obtain the sum of #27, 500, 000. 00 ( Twenty Seven Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only by false pretence from Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 322(1) of the Criminal Law Of Lagos State, 2015.
