A 40-year-old man, Olalekan Akinola, on Friday appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court sitting at Isabo for allegedly defrauding two persons of N2.74 million.
Akinola allegedly obtained loans to the tune of N2.74 million with the personal information of the two persons.
Akinola, who has no fixed address, is charged on two counts of obtaining loan by fraud.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between March 12, 2024 and May 24, 2024. at Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
Rawlings said that the defendant used the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) numbers and other personal data of the two persons to obtain loans from financial institutions.
According to the prosecutor, Akinola used personal data of one Mr Abule Ajatobou to secure loans totalling N2.22 million from three financial institutions.
She alleged that the loans resulted in a total debt liability of N4.30 million, which included interest, and was being deducted from Ajatobou’s salary through direct debit.
Rawlings also alleged that, on August 21, 2024, at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, the defendant used personal information of one Mr Abu Peter to obtain a loan of N529,275 from Trust Microfinance Bank.
The prosecutor said that the loan generated a total debt liability of N800, 288 to be serviced via direct debit from Peter’s salary for 24 months.
“The defendant had approached the complainants, offering to assist them in securing loans from banks, and collected their IPPIS numbers, Bank Verification Numbers and National Identity Numbers.
“Akinola, after helping both complainants to secure their loans, subsequently used their information and documents to obtain additional loans without their consent,” she said.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 419A of the Criminal Code, Law of Ogun State, 2006.
The Magistrate, Mrs B.S. Oke, did not grant bail to the defendant as applied by his counsel.
Oke said that the defendant had been in the police list of wanted persons
She ordered that the defendant should be remanded until the next adjourned date.
She adjourned the case until Aug. 23 for hearing.
