Job seeker lands in jail for defrauding septuagenarian in Osun

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Uba Group

BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO

A 35-year-old man, Babatunde Lawal, has been dragged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court in Osun State for allegedly defrauding a septuagenarian, Durodola Adegoke.

Lawal, who claimed to be a teacher at the Rock International Model School in Orolu Local Government Area of the state, told the court that he used the money to seek employment with the Nigeria Immigration Service because his teaching job could not sustain him.

He said that he begged Adegoke for a loan of N250,000 to process the application with a promise that he would refund the money once he secured an employment with the NIS.

The Police prosecutor, ASP Abiodun Fagboyinbo, said that Lawal intended to defraud Adegoke, a retired principal in the state, by telling him a lie that he needed the money to process a job.
According to Fagboyinbo, the defendant obtained the sum of N250,000 under false pretence from Adegoke but converted it to other use.

The charge read that the defendant, on March 16, 2021, in Okinni, collected the sum of N250,000 from the septuagenarian under false pretence contrary to and punishable under Sections 419 and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

Lawal, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against him. The defence counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, applied for bail for the defendant.

Magistrate A. O. Ajanaku granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, saying that the sureties must be the defendant’s relatives with proofs of ownership of property within the state capital.

Lawal was remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre as he was unable to meet the bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till September 7 for hearing.