Two businessmen, Chikaodi Ogbonna, 43 and Francis Abadnego, 42, who allegedly defrauded a lady of N225, 000 under false pretences, were on Thursday docked before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Lagos
The defendants, whose addresses were not stated, are standing trial before Magistrate Mrs A.O Ajibade, on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, stealing and possession of counterfeit money.
According to the prosecutor, ASP. Kehinde Ajayi, the defendants committed the offences on Feb. 25 at Oshodi, Lagos.
Ajayi said that the defendants conspired to obtain N225, 000 from Mrs Chinyere Amadi under the pretext of changing it to U.S dollars equivalent for her, a representation they knew to be false.
“After the complainant gave them the money, they were nowhere to be found.
“The defendants also stole the complainants’ UBA and GTB ATM cards and an MTN sim card of an unknown person.
“Efforts made by the complainant to retrieve her money proved unsuccessful as they refused to pick her calls.
“The defendants were apprehended five months after and handed over to the police,” the prosecutor said.
Ajayi said upon arrest they had in their possession a liquid substance suspected to be chemical used for money doubling.
She said they also had two containers of sawdust used for fraudulent act and in their possession fake 100 U.S dollars currency.
The offences contravened Sections 287, 314, 372, 376, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 372 carries seven years imprisonment for possession of forged banknotes, while Section 376 attracts three years for possessing instruments used for forgery or counterfeiting money.
Magistrate Mrs A.O Ajibade granted the defendants bail of N200, 000 with two sureties each as part of the bail conditions.
Ajibade said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until Oct. 10 for mention.
