A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday admitted a 44-year-old building contractor, Anonyei Azubuike, to bail of N2 million for allegedly obtaining N8 million under false pretences.
Magistrate A. F Adeeyo, admitting the accused to bail, also ordered him to produce two responsible sureties in like sum.
Adeeyo said that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment and must not be self-employed.
The magistrate then adjourned the case to April 28 for trial.
The prosecutor, Insp. Ibijoke Akinpelu, said that Azubuike of no fixed address, allegedly obtained N8 million under false pretences from Joseph Adam at Ifako Gbagada area of Lagos.
Akinpelu said that the accused had on March 13, 2016 defrauded Adam, who contacted him to drill and install 110 pile points of 600mm diameter and each pile of 33m depth.
She said the accused knew that he was no competent to do the job, but still obtained the N8 million from the complainant.
The prosecutor said that Azubuike who had been shifty since 2016, was recently arrested by the police.
Akinpelu said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes 15 years jail term for any offender of obtaining by false pretences upon conviction. (NAN)