A 42-year-old businessman, Chigozie Okafor, was on Friday arraigned in Lagos for alleged four million Naira motor spare parts fraud.
Okafor, whose address was not provided, faces a one-count fraud charge before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, ASP Ikem Uko, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 20, 2022, at Aspamda, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State.
Uko said that the defendant fraudulently collected the sum from the complainant, Mr Obiora George, to help him to buy motor spare parts, which he failed to do.
He said that the defendant converted the money to his personal use.
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Uko said that efforts made by the complainant to get back his money proved abortive.
He said the offence contravened Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the defendant bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adekomaiya adjourned the case until June 6 for mention.
Talk to a Lawyer facts:
- Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 is a provision that deals with the offence of obtaining property by false pretences.
- According to this section, any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.
- The section also specifies the conditions that must be satisfied for a false pretence to be established, such as the pretence must be false in fact or in law, and the person making it must know it to be false or not believe it to be true.
