A 37 year-old businessman, Hakeem Sulaiman, was, at the weekend, charged over an alleged N5 million fraud before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, in Lagos.
Sulaiman, whose address is unknown to the court, was charged with obtaining by false pretenses and stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp. Stephen Molo, said the accused committed the offences at 2.00 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2013, at Ire-Akari Estate Road, Isolo, Lagos.
Molo said the accused approached the management of Brainfield Consult Ltd, to provide him with 33,000 litres of diesel worth N5 million on credit.
He said Sulaiman made a pledge to the company’s management to pay at a later date.
According to the prosecutor, the accused never made payment for the oil and that all efforts by the complainants to reach the accused yielded no fruits.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of obtaining by false pretenses.
The Magistrate, Mr. A. Adefulire, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Adefulire adjourned the case till June 3, for mention. (NAN)
