BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Zone XI Police Command has dragged two estate agents before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, for allegedly swindling their clients.
The accused persons, a 38-year-old woman, Babajide Oluwaseun and a 40-year-old man, were said to have duped a couple, Mr & Mrs Oluwadare Ajayi of the sum of N3,700,000.
It was gathered that the duo had obtained the sum of N3,700,000 from the couple and promised to purchase some acres of land for them in Ikoyi community of the state.
The duo allegedly bought land worth N1.5million and while trying to allegedly outsmart their clients, they forged a land document after deceiving a lawyer into procuring same.
When they were arraigned by the police before Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, Oluwaseun and Adenrele were accused of committing the offence in the year 2022.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Saheed Anifowoshe, informed the court that the defendants conspired together to commit felony to wit obtaining money by false presence, stealing and forgery, which are contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
The other details of the charge slammed against them read, “That you Babajide Oluwaseun and Adedeji Adenrele, on the same date, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N3,700,000:00 with the pretence of buying 10 acres of land for Mr & Mrs Oluwadare Ajayi Opeyemi Aderonke Oluwakemi, which you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 418 and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did fraudulently trick Mr. & Mrs. Oluwadare Ajayi Opeyemi Aderonke Oluwakemi to buy 10 acres of land valued the sum of N1,500,000.00 at the rate of N3.700,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you Babajide Oluwaseun on the same date, and place in the Magisterial district did forge land sales agreement which you used to purchase landed property to one Mrs. Oluwadare Aderonke Oluwakemi and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2003.”
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the counts. Their lawyer, T. O. Akanni, urged the court to grant the duo bail.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Saheed Anifowoshe, did not object the bail prayer.
Magistrate Ayilara ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned till September 21 for ruling on the bail application.
