BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have arrested a 30-year-old man, Oyerele Ojo, for allegedly defrauding two of his clients and a Point of Sales operator.
The suspect was dragged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court and slammed with a six-count charge bordering on theft and fraud.
Police prosecutor, Fagboyinbo Abiodun, informed the court that Ojo, a building construction worker, had collected the sum of N220,00 from a woman with an agreement of fixing interlocking in her compound but failed to do so.
Abiodun, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, further alleged that the defendant obtained the sum of N13,000 from another client to fill his building foundation but did not carry out the job. He said Ojo allegedly stole the sum of N10,000 from a PoS operator.
The charge read, “That you Oyerele Ojo on the 8th day of June 2023 at about 09:00 am at Adeleke Estate, Okinni area Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N220,000.00) from one Balogun Jumoke with pretence to do the interlocking of her compound and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap.34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
“You did steal the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N220,000.00), property of one Balogun Jumoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
“On 17th day of June 2023 at about 9:00am, at Adeleke Estate Okinni Area, you did fraudulently obtain the sum of N10,000.00 from one Agboola khadijat in her PoS business center with pretence to refund her back within 2 hours and knowing fully it was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap.34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
“That you Oyerele Ojo on 25th day of June 2023 at about 11:00am at Okinni Area Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial district did fraudulently obtain the sum of N13,000.00 from one Alhaji Lamidi Muniru with pretence to do the filling of his building foundation, knowing fully it was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap.34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
“That you (defendant) on the same day, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal the sum of N13,000.00, property of one Alhaji Lamidi Muniru and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap.34, Vol.11 Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.”
Ojo pleaded not guilty to the allegations. There was no legal representation for him.
However, Magistrate A. O. Daramola granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in the same amount. The matter was adjourned till July 28, 2023 for mention.
