The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned a man identified, Kazeem Olawore, before an Ikeja Special Offences for an alleged N21 million land fraud.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olawore was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his not guilty plea, EFCC Counsel, Spiff Owede, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
The prosecution, in one of the counts, alleged that the defendant committed the offences on October 2021 in Lagos.
The anti-graft agency submitted that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N21 million from Lincoln City Services and Investments Ltd. under the representation that he had 15 acres of land for sale at Igboku Village Ilara Town in Epe.
The EFCC said the sum was part payment of the purchase price, a representation he knew to be false.
The commission further alleged the defendant dishonestly converted the money to his personal use.
According to EFCC, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The Defence Counsel, Muhammed Imoru, informed the court that the nominal complainant had written to the EFCC seeking to withdraw the case on the grounds that the defendant had made full payment of the money owed to him.
Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until April 27 for the commencement of trial.
Dada also ordered the release of the defendant to his counsel.
