An estate agent, Adeyemi Ademola, who allegedly defrauded five prospective tenants seeking for shop accommodation of N19,640,000, under disguise of renting shops to them was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court Lagos. Ademola, 46, is standing trial on 11-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and theft.
The prosecutor, Inspector Francis Igbinosa told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences between March 28 and April 4, 2017. He said the defendant had defrauded the victims of the said amount under false pretence of renting shops that had not been completed, without the consent of the owner, one Otunba Stephen Ajose. Igbinosa said the shops, the defendant intended to rent to the victims, were at Richland Mall and Event centre, located along Lekki -Ajah Expressway Lagos. According to him, Ademola collected N1 million from one Kenneth Okpaise on pretence that he had some shops for rent, noting that “the other victims are Mr Ibenye Emmanuel who he obtained the sum of N1, 320,000, from on September 20, 2017, on false pretence that he was going to rent four shops to him, he also obtained N10.4 million from one Mrs Abieyina Jaja, with a promise to give her four shops.”
The prosecutor also alleged that Ade mola, obtained N6million, from one Onyewuchi Obani and N920.000, from one Mrs Ijeoma Eze, with a promise to rent two shops, to her. According to Igbinosa, Ademola between March 2016 and September, 2017, at Richland Mall and Event Centre situated along Lekki- Ajah, Expressway, did conduct himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the public peace, by parading himself as the agent to the said shopping complex, without owner’s consent. He said the offences committed are punishable under Sections 411, 314 (1a), 287 and 168 (d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015. The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge. Magistrate Mrs O. Kusanu granted him bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. Before adjourning the case to December 11, for mention, she said the sureties must be tax payers and have their addresses verified by the Court.
Source: News agencies
