Two men, and Uzoma Nwankwo, charged with defrauding a man of N25 million, under the pretext of helping to secure diamond, on Monday appeared in an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. Nwankwo resides at No. 42, Abati St., Ikotun Egbe, while Akanu resides at No. 11, Oke Filling Station Rd., Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb.
They are both facing charges of obtaining under false pretext, stealing and conspiracy. The two accused persons, however, denied the charges.
Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Olagoke Akinlade, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 21, at Cele Ijesa, along Mile 2 Express Road, Lagos.
Akinlade alleged that the duo approached and hypnotised one Chibuike Igbobureke and told him they could supply him with N25 million worth of diamond. He said the victim was equally told to swear an oath not to disclose the business to any one or what had transpired. “Igbobureke boarded a vehicle on the Mile 2 axis and was hyptonised into paying the sum of N25 million into various accounts.
“He had paid up to N25 million into various accounts before he realised he had been conned,” Akinlade said. He said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 285 prescribes seven years jail term, while 409 stipulates two years for offenders. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.I. Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million each with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Sept. 2 for mention.