A 37-year-old man, Tajudeen Olukoya, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly collecting N550, 000 on the pretext of leasing a space to man for a“Suya” spot at a night club in Lagos.
Suya is a spicy meat skewer which is a popular food item in Nigeria and West Africa; it is traditionally prepared in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Olukoya, who claimed to be an estate agent, resides at Lekki area of Lagos Island and he is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.
The accused, according to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, committed the offences with others now at large sometime in September 2017 at Lekki, Lagos.
He alleged that the accused collected N550, 000 from the complainant, Alhaji Umar Alhassan, with a promise to lease out a space to him to use as “Suya” spot at D’Place Night Club premises at Lekki.
“The accused collected the money and failed to lease out the space as promised and converted the money to personal use.’’
The offences contravened Sections 77, 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences.
The accused, however, denied the charge.
In her short ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 21. (NAN)