Traditional chief docked for alleged N4m fraud
A traditional title holder, Barnabas Igwe, was on Wednesday charged with defrauding a man of N4 million at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, 55, who resides at No. 11, Okoduwa St., is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and issuance of a dud cheque.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
But the prosecutor, Sgt. Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that the accused obtained N4 million from a man, Prince Longinus Okpara, at Fakande St., Kirikiri Town, Lagos.
Ighodalo said Igwe had approached the complainant to solicit for N4 million loan which he wanted to use to clear his tyre-laden container at the ports.
“After paying in the said sum, all efforts to get in touch with Igwe and his accomplice, who is at large proved abortive until he was recently apprehended.”
He also said that after elders from the community of the accused mediated and begged Igwe to pay the money, but instead, he issued two dud cheques.
The offences contravened Sections 312, 319 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment while Section 409 stipulates two years for offenders.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Ajibade, granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two responsible sureties in like sum, one who must be a blood relation and own a landed property in Lagos State.
She adjourned the case till Nov. 25 for mention.
NAN
