A 47-year-old man, Olawale Aregbesola, who allegedly bolted away with his lover’s N700,000 was arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Friday.
The defendant, a furniture maker who resides at 47, Unity St., Ayobo, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, said the offence was committed in June 2013 at Dopemu area of Lagos.
Odugbo said that the complainant, Marian Onilenla, and the defendant were lovers and they were co-habiting before Aregbesola absconded with her money.
The prosecutor added that “the sum of N1.2 million was paid into Aregbesola’s account by Onilenlaas part of her share in the sale of her late father’s property.
“Out of the amount, Onilenla collected N500,000 to settle some bills and left N700,000 in Aregbesola’saccount to help her buy some goods from Dubai so she can start trading.”
Odugbo said the defendant, thereafter, waited for the complainant to go out of the house for a function before packing out and since then his telephone number had been switched off.
“And since then, all efforts to locate Aregbesola failed,” he added.
The prosecutor said Onilenla learnt about Aregbesola’s whereabouts through one of his friends and she took the police to the house who arrested him there.
He noted that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty and the Magistrate, Mrs S. K Matepo, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Matepo adjourned the case until June 25 for mention. (NAN)