Police Arraign Lawyer, Mechanic over Alleged Theft, Fraud

Akinwale Akintunde
A 52-year-old legal practitioner, Francis Azuh, has been dragged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for an alleged N10 million fraud.

Azuh was arraigned before Magistrate O. M. Ajayi on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing preferred against him by the Nigeria Police.

The Police Prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences between August 2014 and January 2015 at Union Bank, Marina at about 12 noon.

Osuji alleged that Azuh fraudulently obtained the sum of N10 million from one Ken Egbunike on false pretence of helping him to process and secure a title document at the Lagos State Ministry of Land.

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant stole the said sum from the complainant.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are punishable under 285 (5) and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges and he was immediately granted bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties.

Magistrate Ajayi said the sureties must be gainfully employed and the defendant must tender his call to bar certificate and addresses to be verified by the court.

The case was therefore adjourned till April 28, for mention.
Similarly, the police also arraigned a 45-year-old mechanic, Gbenga Daramola, before another Magistrate’s Court for an alleged N1 million fraud.

The defendant, whose address was not given, was arraigned before Magistrate O. Kusanu on a three-count charge of fraud, obtaining, convertion and stealing.

The prosecutor, Osuji, told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N1 million from one Dr. Leke Pitan on the pretence of repairing his Mercedes Benz S600 with registration number EPE 800 DU.
Daramola was also accused of converting the said money to his personal use, and that the defendant intentionally damaged the brain box of the car and the side mirrors valued at N200,000.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is punishable under sections 312 (2), 285 and 337 (7) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.

The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties each in like sum.

According to Kusanu, the surties must show evidence of tax payment, their addresses verified and one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant.
The case was adjourned till 26 April.